Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery has issued a warning to the Dominican population and healthcare professionals regarding the rising number of positive Covid-19 cases and other respiratory illnesses. Pulmonologists belonging to the society have reported a significant increase in patients testing positive for Covid-19, influenza, pneumonia, and other viral respiratory conditions in recent weeks.

While the World Health Organization has declared the end of the health emergency for Covid-19, society emphasized that this does not mean that the virus is no longer a global health threat. They urged the public to understand that the risk from Covid-19 persists and advised against letting their guard down.

Society emphasized the possibility of new variants emerging despite the current low indicators. They recommended the resumption of mask usage, particularly in enclosed spaces and areas with large gatherings. They highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable populations, such as seniors, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying health conditions.

Society encouraged individuals experiencing symptoms resembling a common cold or flu to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. They strongly advised against self-medication or following treatments intended for others.

Furthermore, society called upon healthcare professionals to take necessary precautions in their practices, including not admitting patients without masks. Vigilance towards new variants, their effects, and the potential for resurgence was emphasized as a crucial aspect of maintaining public health.

The statement serves as a reminder to remain cautious and proactive in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, prioritizing the well-being and safety of individuals and the community at large.

Tobacco use remains a major public health concern in the Caribbean Region. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. The use of tobacco products in any form harms nearly every organ of the body, irrespective of whether it is smoked, smokeless, or electronic. Of all the forms of tobacco use, most common in the Caribbean region is cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. Using other tobacco products such as cigars or pipes also increases the risk for this disease.

Second-hand smoke exposure causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults; and acute respiratory infections and severe asthma in children. It is a preventable risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which are the leading cause of death, disease and disability among Caribbean people. 

This year, World No Tobacco Day focuses on Grow Food, Not Tobacco. This campaign advocates for ending tobacco cultivation and switching to more sustainable crops that improve food security and nutrition. The campaign observed annually on 31 May, also informs the public on the dangers of direct use, and exposure to tobacco.

In the Caribbean Region, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disability – 76.8 per cent of the total deaths (non-Latin Caribbean, excluding Haiti) were due to NCDs in 2016. Cardiovascular diseases 30.8 per cent and cancer 17.2 per cent are the leading causes of death due to NCD, both linked to tobacco use. Many of these persons die in the prime of their lives before the age of 70 years old. The prevalence of smokers for overall tobacco products ranged from 57.2 per cent prevalence (95 per cent CI 48.4 to 65.4 percent ) to 16.2 per cent (95 percent CI 11.2 to 23.0 per cent ). 

According to the Report on Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas (2018) Caribbean countries have the highest levels of tobacco experimentation before the age of 10.

Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) warned: “Smokeless does not mean harmless. Nicotine in e-cigarettes is a highly addictive drug and can damage children’s developing brains. Children and adolescents who use e-cigarettes at least double their chance of smoking cigarettes later in life. Preventing tobacco product use among youth is therefore critical. It is important that we educate children and adolescents about the harms of nicotine and tobacco product use. We must work to prevent future generations from seeing such products as ‘normal.’”

In 2008, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) endorsed the recommendation to ban smoking in public spaces. Later, in 2012, CARICOM regulated a standard for labelling retail packages of tobacco products with health warnings. Caribbean civil society organisations (CSOs), working in collaboration with local governments and international partners, have led the charge in fighting for significant gains in tobacco control in the Caribbean region.

Dr Heather Armstrong, Head, Chronic Disease and Injury said: “At CARPHA, we believe that reducing the harm caused by tobacco use requires a collective approach, where government, civil society, and the individual play a critical role. CARPHA promotes the prevention of tobacco use in all forms and commitment to the WHO FCTC. The focus on tobacco control deals with the youth of the Region. Children and adolescents who use e-cigarettes at least double their chance of smoking cigarettes later in life.”

The Chronic Diseases and Injury Department of CARPHA provides leadership, strategic direction, coordinates and implements technical cooperation activities directed towards the prevention and control of NCDs in CARPHA Member States. CARPHA’s message for prevention of tobacco product use has spread across its Member States.

In 2018, CARPHA in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), Global Health Diplomacy Program at the University of Toronto, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Healthy Caribbean Coalition evaluated the Port of Spain Declaration to learn which mandates helped to prevent and control NCDs. Taxation, smoke-free public places mandate, and mandatory labelling of tobacco products are some of the leading policies making the biggest impact on reduction of tobacco use in the Caribbean regions.

CARPHA urges Member States to work together to prevent and reduce the use of all forms of tobacco products, and scale-up efforts to implement their commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). By doing so, the negative impact of smoking and its consequences on the health of our people, especially the younger generation, and the tremendous burden on the economies of the countries in our Region, will greatly be reduced. (CARPHA) 

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The Mahdia Secondary School student, who was badly burnt in last week’s dormitory fire, has undergone her first of many surgeries in a New York hospital, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said Tursday. He said the 13-year old girl, who was flown out of Guyana aboard an air ambulance on Saturday, successfully underwent surgery earlier ...

Santo Domingo.- According to Elbi Morla, the former president of the Dominican Society of Pediatric Endocrinology, there are currently between 1,500 to 2,000 children under the age of 18 in the Dominican Republic who have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels.

Morla stated that the number of children diagnosed with diabetes has increased since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. The average annual diagnosis rate has risen from 150 to approximately 250 cases per year.

If left uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to various complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and lower limb amputations.

Morla explains in his book, “My son has diabetes. What should I do?”, that diabetes can be present from birth in some children, but it is more commonly diagnosed between the ages of 5-7 and 10-14. Children with diabetic relatives are more prone to developing the condition, with a 5% risk when one parent is diabetic and a 15-20% risk when both parents are.

The specialist notes that the most common form of diabetes in children is type 1 diabetes, which requires insulin treatment. However, the frequency of diagnoses of type 2 diabetes, which is typically associated with adults, is increasing in obese children and adolescents.

Morla emphasizes five essential aspects of diabetes management in children and adolescents: diabetes education for the patient and their family, a proper dietary plan, insulin administration, exercise, and mental health care.

Clemente Terrero, the director of Robert Reid Cabral Hospital, mentioned an increase in cases of diagnosed diabetes in children. He noted that these children often require hospitalization due to their decompensated condition upon arrival at the hospital. Although he did not provide specific numbers, Terrero stated that diagnoses have become more frequent after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A similar situation was observed at Hugo Mendoza Hospital, where Dhamelisse Then, the hospital’s director, described the number of children arriving at the hospital with ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) as “alarming.” Ketoacidosis occurs when the body lacks sufficient insulin to allow blood sugar to enter cells for energy use.

During a recent colloquium with medical societies and public health authorities, Then stated that the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been admitting three to four patients per week due to decompensation resulting from ketoacidosis.

Effective Tuesday, 30 May 2023, outpatient clinics will be conducted at the new hospital building (Phase 2)

View the full post Outpatient clinic relocated to General Hospital building Phase 2 on NOW Grenada.

The Vector Control Department will intensify its ongoing fogging operations over the week of 23–28 May 2023

View the full post Vector Control Department intensifies mosquito fogging on NOW Grenada.

Santo Domingo.- The sale of uncertified medicines through social media platforms without any medical endorsement is a growing concern for health authorities in the Dominican Republic. Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, raised the alarm about these “miracle drugs” being promoted without scientific backing, often using influencers or false advertising to attract buyers.

Many of these products are being advertised on social networks, claiming numerous benefits and even employing popular figures and influencers to entice consumers. People often fall victim to scams when purchasing these products. Rivera stressed the need for increased controls and intervention to address this issue, while also urging the public to remain vigilant and ensure that the products they buy or consume have proper regulation and certification.

Rivera cited an example from last year when his own image was used without consent to endorse blood pressure products, a situation he promptly denounced. The responsibility of verifying the regulation and certification of medicines, as well as suspending and removing counterfeit or expired products, falls under the General Directorate of Medicines, Food, and Health Products of the Ministry of Public Health (Digemaps).

The Minister encouraged the public to ensure that health products and services they consume or purchase have the proper regulation, certification, or authorization issued by the Ministry of Public Health to guarantee their quality. He further revealed that 137 centers have been shut down this year for non-compliance with licensing regulations.

The Dominican Republic recently hosted the “Congress of Central American Drug Regulatory Agencies,” where 12 Latin American nations aimed to strengthen controls in the marketing of consumer products. The participating countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, sought to establish common regulations and controls at the regional level. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reiterated its commitment to providing technical cooperation requested by member states to strengthen drug regulatory authorities in Central America and the Dominican Republic.

Santo Domingo.- On August 4th, the Dominican Republic will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Pan American Games held in its capital city. However, if the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (Miderec) fails to address the repeated warnings from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the country could face severe international sanctions, including restrictions on its athletes’ participation in global events as a neutral team without their flag and anthem.

The situation parallels the challenges faced by Russian athletes following a 2019 sanction for violating the World Anti-Doping Code. In a communication/ultimatum sent by María José Pesce, the director of WADA’s Latin American office, to Miderec and the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) on May 4th, it was stated that unless 15 suggested corrective actions are taken by August 4th, the non-compliance chapter of the World Anti-Doping Code will be activated, leading to significant consequences for Dominican athletes and the country as a whole.

The core issue revolves around the lack of financial allocation to the National Anti-Doping Agency, with an estimated annual funding of no more than RD$10 million. Failure to comply with the World Anti-Doping Code can result in the withdrawal of all financial and logistical assistance from WADA. Additionally, the suspension of recognition by the Olympic and Paralympic Movements could be imposed, preventing the country from organizing official competitions and participating in specific events.

The alert from WADA comes at a crucial time as the Dominican Republic prepares to participate in the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador and faces potential disqualification from major events such as the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and the qualifying competitions for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

To avoid such consequences, WADA’s letter emphasizes the need for financial resources to meet the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code. This includes addressing the recommendations outlined in the audit conducted in the country in December, implementing a control distribution plan, conducting a risk analysis, complying with technical analysis documents, and establishing an adverse results management unit.

The urgency of the matter necessitates action from Miderec and the COD to ensure compliance and secure the future participation of Dominican athletes in international sporting events.

The Grenada Edition of the ECCB’s 40th Anniversary Lecture Series starts at 7 pm on Wednesday, 31 May 2023, at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort

View the full post ECCB’s 40th Anniversary Lecture Series Grenada Edition 31 May on NOW Grenada.

The office of the Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacy Inspector has been temporarily relocated to the ground floor of the new wing (phase 2) of the General Hospital, St George’s

View the full post Temporary Relocation of Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacy Inspector’s Office on NOW Grenada.