Santo Domingo, DR.
The Dominican Republic continues with low records of coronavirus cases, a disease that has caused 4,384 deaths and 660,814 affected in three years.

The General Directorate of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health notified 14 new cases of covid-19 after processing 935 samples, of which 249 were PCR and 686 were antigenic.

Bulletin #1079 indicates that the daily positivity stands at 2.29 % and that there are now only 53 active cases.

Regarding hospitalizations, no persons are in Covid beds or Intensive Care Units.

Lessons from Covid

On March 1, 2020, the first case of Covid-19 was diagnosed in the country, and for three years, it has been fighting against the disease.

To know the experience, Listín Diario will gather four speakers and 12 panelists who have played essential roles in the fight against Covid-19 to expose the experiences and actions adopted by the country in front of the pandemic during the National Forum Covid-19, which will take place next Friday, March 10.

The activity, organized by Listín Diario together with the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and the Ministry of Public Health, is aimed at presenting the experiences of the work carried out in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic to see the lessons learned and the strengths left to the health system, three years after the diagnosis of the first imported case in the Dominican Republic.

The forum, which will have three large panels, will include the participation of the Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, who will speak on the Management of the Public, Private, and Citizen Alliance, and Mr. Chanel Rosa Chupany, who headed the SNS, among others.

It should be noted that the latest variant of covid’s severity has lessened substantially, with mild symptoms and no hospitalizations. Also, the natural immunity produced by an infection prevents further contraction or spread of the virus.

AUTHORITIES RAMP UP EFFORTS TO KEEP AFRICAN SWINE FLU, BIRD FLU OUT

By Anesta Henry

Cabinet has approved the resources to bolster efforts to prevent African swine fever or bird flu outbreaks on the island.
Although not saying exactly how much had been provided, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Trotman said that in addition to monitoring outbreaks in other countries, the Ministry of Agriculture has been working closely with farmers to ensure they are implementing preventative measures to protect their pigs and birds.
There have been outbreaks of African swine fever across Europe and bird flu in parts of Asia.
Speaking from the well of Parliament as the Estimates Debate continued on Friday, Dr Trotman said the ministry has also been producing public service announcements to inform Barbadians about the two “serious” diseases, including the damage they had the potential to cause.
“At the end of the day, it is up to the farmers to put measures in place to prevent the entry of the viruses, whether it be bird flu or African swine fever. From an entry standpoint, we are doing some monitoring of landing sites because the bird flu is a highly pathogenic avian influenza, to use the correct term.
“This particular outbreak seems to be transmitted through migratory birds which is a little different from the previous episodes, which makes it a totally different beast to deal with,” Dr Trotman said.
He added: “So we are monitoring sites where wild birds come into the country. Barbados, as you know, is right in the middle of the Atlantic flyway; birds travelling south in the winter do rest in landing sites in Barbados and that poses a risk of entry of the disease into the country. So monitoring those landing sites becomes important, so if we do get birds that are potentially coming in we can pick that up.”
The Chief Veterinary Officer said officials have also been creating a database on the poultry and pork industry to identify where farms are situated and what risk factors exist, particularly if they are close to landing sites for birds.
He said that while there is an ongoing community outreach programme to register farms, there is evidence of a significant number of unregistered farmers.
Dr Trotman pointed out that these farmers do not access the services of the Ministry of Agriculture for technical support or veterinary assistance because they do not consider themselves farmers.
“We are putting GPS points on each of these farms so we have a good overview of where they are, not only so that we can identify them, but in the event of an outbreak we can map it and identify how the disease can possibly spread from there outwards.
“We have found that we have well over 1 500 pig holding areas, which were a lot more than we thought there were. The poultry industry, they are such a diverse group of farmers – you have your commercial entities, you have your small holders, you have your backyard farmers – and each of them has to have a tailored approach in terms of what they can do to protect their farms,” he explained.
With respect to the importation of pork and poultry products, Dr Trotman said as the need arises and outbreaks widen within certain countries, restrictions are being implemented to prevent the entry of the viruses.
“We put restrictions to prevent it from entering through passenger baggage, through commercial entries, while trying our best to safeguard a certain level of trade. We have had to take a more surgical approach to this rather than an outright ban on all poultry and pork products.
“We have done that quite successfully with countries such as the United States and Canada, and so we are looking to try to do it with the United Kingdom as well,” the Chief Veterinary Officer said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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To avoid situations like the one that occurred a decade ago when hundreds of thousands of Dominicans contracted chikungunya, the doctor understands that it is necessary to protect oneself from the bite of the Aedes aegypti.
The also director of the Robert Reid Cabral hospital warned that chikungunya could cause lesions in different body organs, such as the heart and kidneys. By way of example, he cited meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, and pericarditis, among others.

Greater danger

Children and adolescents could be at greater risk should chikungunya spread in the country as it did in 2014.
The Dominican Republic has been under epidemiological alert since the World Health Organization spoke of the presence of the disease in The Americas.

Mosquito control Authorities advise eliminating standing water where mosquitoes could lay their eggs.

Once a week, empty, scrub, turn over, cover, or throw away any items that accumulate water, such as tires, buckets, flower pots, toys, swimming pools, birdbaths, flower pot dishes, and garbage containers.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs near water.

Protecting yourself from mosquitoes

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends controlling mosquitoes inside and outside your home. These include using window and door screens; using air conditioning if one is available; sleeping under mosquito netting if rooms don’t have air conditioning or screens on doors and windows, or if you sleep outside.

“Once a week, empty, scrub, turn over, cover or throw away any items that collect water such as tires, buckets, flower pots, toys, swimming pools, birdbaths, planter dishes and garbage containers. Check inside and outside your home. Mosquitoes lay their eggs near water.”

For children and infants, CDC recommends protecting infants and children from mosquito bites and dressing in clothing that covers the arms and legs. “When using insect repellent on children: Always follow directions when applying insect repellent to children.

Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under three years of age.”

It also urges not to apply insect repellent to children’s hands and eyes or cut or irritated skin.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) welcomed nine interns into the fold on Wednesday, March 1, as they began their one-year internship programme with the hospital, in partial fulfillment of the requirement to practice medicine in Barbados.

The doctors will work in the Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics Departments during the next 12 months. 

In her address, Director of Medical Services Dr Chaynie Williams reminded the interns to work hard in their respective departments every day.  

Before welcoming them officially into the QEH, Dr Williams prompted the youthful doctors to utilise the assistance that is always nearby, citing that “there is always someone to call on to ask a question when needed”.  

The doctors were all smiles and appeared ready for the challenge as they proceeded to their assigned departments in the hospital. 

(QEH)

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Although the behavior of these diseases cannot be viewed on the Epidemiology Directorate website, because it is outdated, one death from leptospirosis and six reports have already been observed in just one week, the first in 2023. Although the numbers are not available to make comparisons of the behavior of dengue, as of the first week of this year, 70 cases of dengue had been reported, a viral disease that requires epidemiological surveillance and that greatly affects children under 15 years of age.

For the same period last year, 68 cases had been reported. No deaths had been reported as of this date. Hospitals such as Robert Reid Cabral and Hugo Mendoza report a low amount of patients. However, the disease is a latent threat and community collaboration is required to prevent it.

A significant amount of productivity is lost when cow-itch affects schools, says President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Rudy Lovell.
He says not only were students losing learning time, but parents, who had to leave their jobs to pick them up when schools close, are also losing hours of productivity at their various workplaces.
He made the comments while speaking to Barbados TODAY on Thursday as he once again urged landowners with vacant lots near schools to keep these cleared of the bothersome vines.
“I cannot overemphasize it enough, this is a serious inconvenience to both students, teachers and even parents who would have to venture to the school to collect their children. We would want to encourage or impress upon those landowners who have lots that are unoccupied and that are overgrown with bush and cow itch to continue to clear them to keep the lots clear, to reduce the the prevalence of cow-itch and the effects it can have on the student population,” he added.
Last week, All Saints Primary in St Peter, Mount Tabor Primary in St John, and the Blackman and Gollop Primary and Thelma Berry Nursery schools in Christ Church closed their doors as some teachers and children began to experience allergic reactions to the environmental problem.
Lovell said that while most of the affected schools had reopened on Monday without any issues, a minor hiccup was encountered for the staff and students attending the Thelma Berry Nursery School.
“The occupants were still affected as while the debris was cleared from the outside, there was still residue on the chairs and desks inside the school. So it was industrially cleaned on Monday evening after school and everything was back to normal on Tuesday morning,” he stated.
(JB)

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Even as Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Roysdale Forde said political parties’ headquarters were untouchable, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall said the building that housed the People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) office in Lethem has been earmarked for a health care facility. “The location of this site is slated ...

Barbados’ newest centenarian, Maria St. Auburn-Cave, is very happy to reach her 100th birthday.  

St. Auburn-Cave, who celebrated her special day on Tuesday, February 28, with family at her Valley Development home, St. George said her only regret on reaching the milestone was that her husband was not alive to share it with her.

“I feel good; I feel real happy. The only thing [is], I feel sad that my husband is not here… God take him and I have to live without him, but he was a good husband and a good father. He worked day and night to provide for us; we never suffered a day… I love[d] him very much,” she said.

President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, paid a visit via Zoom, as part of the celebrations, and wished the centenarian a very special birthday. Her Excellency noted that. St. Auburn-Cave’s day “is special in a number of ways, especially because she is the widow of Prince Cave, who has given Barbados so much pleasure over the years.”  

The centenarian’s second daughter, Antoinette Sealy, paid a tribute on behalf of the family, stating: “Mummy’s pride and joy has always been her seven children… her 12 grandchildren and her 12 great-grandchildren. Her family always came first.” 

Lloyd Cave, one of the centenarian’s eldest grandchildren, noted that she is “the rock of the family”.

Prince Cave Jr., one of the centenarian’s sons and a member of the Troubadours band in Barbados, shared that one of his fondest memories was “the strength she had” when his father, Inspector Prince Cave, former Director of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band (now Barbados Police Service Band) traveled for three years to complete a Band Master’s course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, England.   

Perhaps one of the most poignant tributes was that from Ronald Cave, who shared that when he took ill with tetanus as a boy, “every day, sometimes twice a day” his mum would walk from work or from home to the hospital. “There were some days I was so bad that she could not see me directly, but I remember that sometimes she would come by the window to catch a glimpse,” he noted.

Auburn-Cave worked in the Accounts Department at Perkins and Sons and then at French Trading Co. Ltd. until retirement. Both businesses were on Roebuck Street, Bridgetown.  

She was known for sticking to a schedule and the family knew that growing up, when it was noon it was time to eat and at 7 p.m. she would watch the Evening News on CBC TV, which to this day, she still does with the lights turned off. 

One of the centenarian’s favourite songs is Wind Beneath My Wings,, which Prince Cave Jr. played on the saxophone, as part of his tribute to his mother.

An avid cook, Auburn-Cave still prepares some of her own meals, mainly breakfast (tea and a boiled egg) and her evening tea, which she takes with a fried egg. She has a special fondness for eggs, and she eats two every day. The centenarian appreciates all types of food and is known to like dessert – ice cream and jam puffs. 

(BGIS)

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By Anesta Henry

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has launched a monthly Employee Recognition Programme to honour staff for their hard work, dedication and going the extra mile to deliver patient care.

Delivering remarks at the inaugural awards held at the QEH Auditorium on Tuesday, Executive Chairman Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland said such an initiative is pivotal simply because only those within the organisation understand what it truly takes to deliver patient care to the public.

She stressed that employees understand the times of plenty, scarcity, as well as the creativity, professional skills, ingenuity, collyfoxing, and sacrificing that it takes to make QEH work.

Bynoe-Sutherland said reward and recognition programmes are important to increase motivation for workers to maintain a positive attitude, encourage friendly competition, improve productivity, and also boost employee retention as satisfied workers are less likely to leave or complain and are most likely to deliver the best service or patient care.

“But forgive me if I dwell on a lesson that I have learnt over the past three years and why I pushed so hard on this event. The QEH organisational culture is a work in progress, we are trying to create a culture of open and effective communication between ourselves and with our patients. 

“We are seeking to maintain a unified purpose and build and sustain a culture of excellence. Our culture will not be changed by mandates from the board or directives from management. What QEH has taught me, what all of you in this room teach us, is that a positive organisational culture is built by inculcating in each and every employee the sense that their words and actions make a difference,” she said.

Suggesting that employees are motivated when commended for a job well done, the Executive Chairman said the 64-plus employees honoured at the inaugural event were chosen because of their deliberate choice to give of themselves, rise against their own personal circumstances and to give to the people of Barbados.

Noting that there are not yet many hospitals on the island where healthcare professionals can trade their skills, Bynoe-Sutherland said for many, working at QEH is the goal. 

“Therefore, we are compelled to do all that we can to build recognition into the fabric and sinews of the organisation. This event is just one corporate measure for executive directors to celebrate their teams. Peer recognition is equally important. 

“We are going to continue with our annual Peer Recognition event, the RESPECT Awards where team members vote and recognise other team members, as recognition from co-workers can be equally as important, and it’s really important to get staff engaged in celebrating and recognising others. 

“In building this culture of recognition – a radio shout out, a thank-you card, handwritten notes, or an anonymous gift can have tremendous power in showing authentic appreciation. It is also important to recognise that some of your employees love the spotlight and others are much more private so recognition can be tailored to the individuals,” she said.

Employees were honoured for various contributions to patient care and for keeping the facility functioning even during challenging times.

Groups from several departments were recognised for the significant role they played, going beyond the call of duty and working long hours, to ensure QEH systems kept running during the cyber-attack on the hospital’s information technology systems. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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Avian Influenza is transmitted by wild migratory birds moving from cold climates into warmer regions

View the full post Grenada under high alert against Avian Influenza on NOW Grenada.