Santo Domingo.- By 2030, an estimated 68% of Dominican adults will have a high body mass index, with 32% living with obesity, according to the World Obesity Atlas 2025 report. Giselle Escaño, president of the Dominican Association for the Study of Obesity (Asodeo), emphasized the serious health challenges this poses, urging authorities to strengthen prevention policies. Key strategies include awareness campaigns, regulating sugary drinks, and promoting physical activity.

Dr. Luis Cruz highlighted economic barriers to healthy eating, stressing the need for education and accessible nutrition. Preventive health initiatives, such as the recent event at the Cruz Jiminián Clinic, aim to address obesity and related conditions like hypertension and diabetes. The operation included medical evaluations, nutritional counseling, and psychological support to promote a comprehensive approach to obesity prevention.

Government statistics show that 70.1% of Dominican adults were overweight or obese in 2021, with rising rates among children and adolescents, especially in private schools. Experts warn that obesity can lead to over 200 complications, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The initiative, supported by INABIE and World Television, is part of World Obesity Day efforts, expecting to assist 200–300 participants in improving their health.

The Ministry of Health on Tuesday inked a US$3.3 million agreement with the United Kingdom-headquartered RioMed Limited to establish an electronic health records (EHR) system that would be accessible across all public healthcare providers to allow doctors to more efficiently treat patients. Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony again warned those who would access the EHR ...

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, Barbados TODAY highlighted women working in various fields – from health to telecoms, from development to politics – as they share their sources of success and triumph over challenges they have encountered. Here is an interview with Rachel DeGale, CEO of BioConnect Medical Centre, about her journey.

When it comes to women’s health, Rachel DeGale is comfortable with the taboo.

After spending nearly two decades in fertility health, Rachel is now the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of BioConnect Medical Centre, a game-changing health and wellness facility that focusses on holistic perimenopause and menopause treatments. Dr. Roberta Corona is the other co-founder and Medical Director.

“Any woman that has the privilege of aging is going to go through menopause. Some women are going to sail through it, and some women are going to really struggle, but at the end of the day, you don’t get a medal for slogging it through! You can’t make it to the finish line by not reaching out and getting help.”

To spend a minute with Rachel is to know she is dynamic, passionate and driven to do the best she can for their clients. So perhaps it was no surprise when she shared her own issues with reaching out for help during her ongoing battle with perimenopause.

The 47-year-old credits her turnaround to Dr. Corona’s support and treatment as well as working with the “best team ever.”
How does she think they would describe her as a leader? Firm, but fair.

“I have learned that how I lead apparently is quite unique. I don’t believe as women in leadership… that we have to be boisterous; we don’t have to be ‘little men’. I do believe that we can be authentically who we are as people. I remember my old boss used to say all that time that trust is earned, and she was absolutely correct in that you have to earn your team’s trust. How do you do that? You have their back, from the little details of knowing what’s happening in their life to the big things.”

Rachel believes accelerating action comes from education and awareness about women’s health at all stages and phases. And perhaps that is what allows you to be excited about what’s next.

“When people are talking about menopause they can come with a shroud of negativity, and it doesn’t have to be like that. There are solutions out there.”

This article appeared in the March 8 International Women’s Day Magazine by Barbados Today. View the magazine here.

The post Rachel DeGale: Innovating Healthcare at BioConnect Medical Centre appeared first on Barbados Today.

On Tuesday, Emmalin Pierre, NNP Political Leader and Opposition Leader in Parliament updated that Dr Mitchell was in “great spirit and he is well”

View the full post Dr Mitchell recovering from blackout episode on NOW Grenada.

The historically left-leaning Working People’s Alliance (WPA) on Monday said there was diplomatic space for Guyana to find the balance between regional solidarity with Cuba against the United States (US) and securing American support to deal with Venezuela’s increasing aggression over the Essequibo region. While Guyana needs to retain the support of the US and ...

GFNC’s annual surveys of daycare children and biennial assessments of preschoolers help identify children who need support 

View the full post GFNC Survey Daycare and Pre-School results on NOW Grenada.

Santo Domingo.- Political economy specialist Arismendi Díaz criticized the Dominican Republic’s healthcare system, stating that hospitals remain a symbol of poverty and inefficiency despite significant social protection coverage. Speaking on Contacto 360, he noted that while 97.3% of the population has healthcare access, the quality of care has not improved.

Díaz highlighted that despite strong economic growth, the country lags in social investment, with spending at half the Latin American average. He emphasized that this disparity has delayed healthcare reforms, requiring four decades to establish the current Social Security Law.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) says Guyana is careful not to offend the United States (US) over concerns that Cuban healthcare workers were being subjected to forced labour because of Washington’s unequivocal support against a Venezuelan invasion over the Essequibo Region. “Guyana faces a greater risk than other Caribbean territories of offending the US ...

The loud music and even louder engine noise coming from the so-called “kitipos,” which occur from the early hours of the afternoon until the early hours of the morning, generate intense anxiety in different neighborhoods of the country.

HOY newspaper confirmed this reality when it moved to the Los Alcarrizos sector in Santo Domingo Norte as part of the special series Hoy en tu barrio. In interviews, several community members agreed that the noise is so unbearable that some have had to “sleep at work” to rest.

Survey

To find out if this situation is replicated in other communities, Hoy newspaper surveyed social networks, asking readers: “Do you face problems in your community due to loud music or other annoying noises?«

Most Internet users responded affirmatively, denouncing that noise pollution affects their quality of life.

Complaints from citizens

Hostensia expressed his frustration with the noise pollution: “I almost bleed from my ears, every day of the week, the whole day the windows shake from the noise, you can’t watch TV, you can’t rest.”

Angela Harvey denounced the alarming situation in La Vega: “Yes, La Vega is a disaster. Among the businesses that give permission to open in front of houses, schools, hospitals, and cars with horns, they are destroying peace.”

Orquídea narrated her experience: “We can’t rest easy, the street is on foot and those neighbors have parties every day. Believe me that last Tuesday we had to close the house and go somewhere else, we couldn’t hear our own voice. That is from Monday to Monday, and to make it more tragic they also do karaoke.”

Another user lamented the lack of control: “There is still a long way to go to control this disease, which is a disorder.”

Sandra, for her part, said that the situation is even more serious due to insecurity: “There is a lot of scandal, with criminals covering our society.”

They ask for action from the authorities

Some citizens took advantage of the conversation on social media to call on the Minister of Interior and Police, Faride Raful.

Richard encouraged the official: “Yes, the whole country is a noise. Faride, go ahead and fight this disorder.”

Francisco Alberto Encarnación denounced the constant problem of noise pollution in his sector, Villa Liberación, in Santo Domingo Este: “We have a lot of problems with noise pollution.”

However, not all users agreed with the complaints. Julissa Crisóstomo and Miguel affirmed that they do not face this situation in their sectors.

For his part, Yunior describes noise pollution as a widespread problem: “This is a society sick with noise. Good for Faride Raful, the people need to rest.”

President Irfaan Ali on Saturday announced that efforts were underway to get children to spend less time on their mobile phones and electronic devices and instead engage in more sports and physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle. “Even if we have to put free WiFi in the park to get the children out of ...