Two forensic pathologists from the United States (US) are due in Guyana to conduct the autopsy on the body of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, which was found in a pool at Double Day Hotel, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. The Ministry of Health has added Dr Glenn A. Rudner, a forensic and anatomic pathologist affiliated with Mount ...

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A sharp rise in cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia among young adults has prompted health authorities to warn of a growing public health threat, despite stable rates in HIV infection, the virus that leads to AIDS.

Senior medical officer of health in the Ministry of Health, Dr Dale Babb, revealed on Wednesday that although HIV prevalence in Barbados is currently stable, other STIs are on the rise.

“HIV is not gone,” he said. “Our prevalence in Barbados is currently one per cent. We registered 107 persons for care in 2024, and that is similar to the average number that is registered per year.”

Dr Babb noted improvements in early detection and treatment of HIV, but warned that the public must not overlook the spread of other infections.

He said: “What I want to caution the public about is to remember the other STIs—syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia—are often forgotten about, even though I hear, repeatedly, persons saying that they don’t hear about HIV anymore. It hasn’t gone anywhere, but guess what else hasn’t gone? Syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.”

Over the last two years, there have been shifting patterns, with gonorrhoea cases increasing significantly, particularly among men, the senior health official said.

“What we have noticed in the last two years, 2023 and 2024, is an increase in the number of cases of gonorrhoea and chlamydia, and in 2024, an uptick in the number of syphilis cases,” she said.

“In the past, we always would have noticed more females than males with both chlamydia and gonorrhoea. But in 2023 and 2024, we’ve noticed an almost equal proportion of males and females with gonorrhoea.”

“The number of females with gonorrhoea has not been rising to contribute to that difference that we’re seeing, but it is the number of males that has risen,” Dr Babb explained.

The increase in cases is most prevalent among people in their twenties, she reported.

“The age group most commonly where we see the rise is the 20 to 24 age group in males and females.”

While the number of chlamydia cases has climbed slightly, the positivity rate has remained steady.

“Chlamydia rates, although numbers have risen, the overall positivity rate has not. So what we’re seeing with chlamydia is a consistent, I don’t want to say steady, but a steady number of cases, whereas gonorrhoea is going up and syphilis is going up.”

Dr Babb reminded the public about the importance of responsible sexual behaviour.

“Let us please not forget the other STIs and the way we prevent all of them is similar, it’s the same. Having one partner consistently, knowing your status, using a condom each and every time, and practising safer sexual practices.”

The Ministry of Health plans to ramp up public education, condom distribution and free testing through ongoing outreach efforts. These initiatives aim to reach vulnerable populations and foster healthier, more informed communities. (LG)

The post ‘Unsafe sex’: STIs surge among young adults appeared first on Barbados Today.

Officials are moving ahead with reforms to Barbados’ mental health care system, including the launch of a national Employee Care Programme to support the well-being of health care workers.

The announcement was made by Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, during the Psychiatric Hospital’s Awards Ceremony held on Saturday night at Mahogany Ridge.

Cyd Birch- Prescott (right) received the Grace Bailey Award, presented by Psychiatric Hospital Director David Leacock.

Themed Excellence Should Be Our Hallmark, the event honoured outstanding staff and long-serving members of the hospital community.
Minister Ishmael outlined a vision for Barbados’ mental health system. “I have a vision that this Psychiatric Hospital and its team will be a sterling example, the standard bearers, the gold standard of mental health care in the Caribbean and maybe even the world,” he declared.

“The Government of Barbados, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, remains steadfast in its commitment to investing in a modern, people-centred mental health system. We do not only speak of reform, we act on it, and we act boldly because we believe that mental health is not a privilege; it is a right.”

Recent reforms include the strategic expansion of community-based mental health services with the integration of multidisciplinary teams—psychologists, social workers, and other professionals—into the island’s polyclinic network.

“These teams are now more present and better integrated across our network of polyclinics, ensuring that all citizens regardless of income, geography, or background have access to comprehensive mental health services close to their homes,” the minister said.

Infrastructure upgrades are also underway. The hospital’s outpatient department is slated for reopening, and renovations to the observation ward are in progress to ensure alignment with international standards.

Another initiative is a national training plan to ensure that both clinical and interpersonal skills align with global standards. The focus will be on patient rights, de-escalation techniques, and the integration of physical and mental health services. To strengthen early detection and frontline care, public health nurses are being trained in Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) competencies to better support individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

“I call upon all staff to appreciate and maximise the investment being made, not only in the physical plant or the technology, but in you, our most important assets,” Ishmael told the hospital workers.

Reflecting on the purpose of the evening, he noted, “This event is a celebration of dedication, of excellence, and of the unwavering commitment to service that defines each and every one of you who are here tonight.

“In mental health, excellence takes in even deeper meaning. It requires not only clinical knowledge and technical skill, but profound empathy, patience, resilience and an unwavering belief in human dignity.”

He encouraged a society-wide approach to mental health advocacy, noting that “many people need a lifting hand, a word of comfort—sometimes just a hug—and that can help them to come back to reality”.

During the ceremony, awards were presented in recognition of long service and outstanding contributions. Recipients of the Hospital Director’s Awards were Selvin Greenidge, Michelle Moore, and Rodney Stuart. The prestigious Grace Bailey Award was presented to Cyd Birch-Prescott. Soca performer Peter Ram was one of the recipients of the Friends of Psychi Awards for his continued support of their initiatives.

The post Government to launch mental health support programme for health workers appeared first on Barbados Today.

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Santo Domingo.- Starting this Monday, an immigration verification protocol will be implemented in 33 public hospitals across the Dominican Republic as part of President Luis Abinader’s strategy to address irregular Haitian immigration. The General Directorate of Immigration (DGM) stated that the measure aims to regulate care for foreign patients, enforce immigration laws, and protect the sustainability of the public healthcare system.

Under this protocol, immigration inspectors will check patients’ legal documentation, including valid ID, proof of residence, work letters, and ability to pay for services. Patients who lack these documents will still receive medical care, but once recovered, will be repatriated. This follows President Abinader’s recent address urging undocumented Haitians to leave voluntarily or face deportation.

Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, Director of the DGM, emphasized that the policy will be carried out with respect for due process and human rights, especially in sensitive cases such as children, pregnant women, and critical patients. In preparation, the DGM and National Health Service (SNS) conducted training with hospital staff to coordinate implementation. Since the president’s mass deportation order in October 2024, over 180,000 Haitians have been deported despite international concern over conditions in Haiti.

Paediatricians and surgeons in Guyana would this week benefit from an expert session on paediatric liver transplants at a continuing medical education (CME) session, the Health Ministry said. The session would be facilitated by Group Medical Director of Apollo Hospitals Group in India, Professor Anupam Sibal. During his engagement on Wednesday, April 23 at the ...

Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, and Guyana are to conduct a joint operation later against two major environmental crimes, according to a top French Guiana official. That decision was taken at the first operational meeting of the Guyana Shield working group that brought together representatives of police and justice services in Cayenne, French Guiana, from April ...

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A new drug has shown promise in combating Parkinson’s disease while minimizing unwanted side effects.

The once-daily pill, tavapadon, was found to relieve symptoms — including stiffness, coordination, tremors and movement — for a longer period of time for patients who were also taking at least 400 mg of levodopa a day and were experiencing "motor fluctuations," which are periods of time when the medication wears off and symptoms return, according to the study.

Until now, levodopa has been the standard first-line treatment for Parkinson’s patients. 

PARKINSON’S CASES COULD DOUBLE GLOBALLY BY 2050, STUDY REVEALS

Levodopa — which is converted into dopamine in the brain and targets the D2/D3/D4 dopamine receptors — has been linked to side effects including sleep disorders, hallucinations, impulse control behavioral disorders, weight gain, leg swelling and blood pressure changes, according to the researchers.

In the study, tavapadon — which works by mimicking dopamine and targeting the D1/D5 receptors — was found to have the same benefits as levodopa without the adverse effects, according to Hubert H. Fernandez, MD, lead study author and director of the Center for Neurological Restoration at Cleveland Clinic.

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"It provides patients with another option to alleviate their motor fluctuations that are commonly experienced with levodopa (the best drug we have so far in Parkinson’s) in the moderate to advanced stages of the disorder," Fernandez told Fox News Digital.

"This global, multi-center, pivotal trial showed that patients placed on tavapadon had significantly more ‘on time’ and less ‘off time’ compared to those who received placebo — and that the drug was well-tolerated by patients."

In the study, the researchers measured patients’ impulse control behavior disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, blood pressure changes and weight changes, and found that the adverse effects linked to tavapadon were no different from those who received a placebo.

"Of course, this is a short-term study, and we need to wait for our long-term study to be really confident that our preliminary observations remain true," Fernandez noted. "Nonetheless, we are very encouraged."

The researchers presented the results of the TEMPO 3 trial at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) earlier this month in San Diego.

For those who were recently diagnosed and are having less severe motor symptoms, Fernandez suggested that a once-daily dose of tavapadon could potentially replace the three-times-a-day dosing of levodopa.

"Should they require levodopa at some point, they will need a lower dose and less frequency, which then reduces their likelihood of developing motor fluctuations and dyskinesia and other side effects," he noted in a press release.

For those with more advanced Parkinson’s, tavapadon could be paired with levodopa. 

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"So regardless of when it’s used, whether in the very beginning or as an adjunctive therapy to levodopa, we think it’s a gain overall," Fernandez added.

Recent research has found that Parkinson's cases are expected to surge by 2050, affecting up to 25 million people globally.

The biggest increase will affect people aged 80 and older, with cases in that age group projected to increase by 196% by 2050, they noted. 

As results of the long-term trial are pending, AbbVie, the maker of tavapadon, will soon file an application to the Food and Drug Administration for approval of the drug.

"The FDA will then review the application — from there, they can either approve it for use, ask more questions that may not be clear, or request another study or an extension to verify some results," Fernandez said.

"We are hopeful that this new generation of dopamine agonist — being more selective in its dopamine receptor stimulation, and given only once daily — will be a significant improvement in the symptomatic treatment of PD symptoms in the early, middle and advanced stages of the disease," he added. 

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Dr. Mary Ann Picone, medical director of the MS Center at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, was not involved in the study but called the results "very interesting and encouraging as a new tool for improving quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease."

"One of the major limitations of the long-term use of dopamine is wearing-off phenomena and the need to dose it more frequently," Picone told Fox News Digital. 

"The use of dopamine agonists helps to prolong the long-term benefit of dopamine. Decreased benefit of dopamine can lead to ‘freezing,’ or episodes where patients have increased stiffness and difficulty moving."

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"This new therapy would target different receptors and allow for more ‘on’ time, but without the involuntary dyskinesia (uncontrolled movements) that … can interfere with function."