The health of the liver can be promoted through proper nutrition, staying hydrated by drinking adequate amounts of water daily and exercising regularly

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Twenty percent of children in Guyana are living in severe food poverty because they are being fed 0 to 2 food groups per day, according to a just released global report on the subject by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The report titled “Child Food Poverty: Addressing nutrition deprivation in early childhood 2024” explains ...

Santo Domingo – As of May 31, the Dominican Republic had 7,574 cases of dengue fever, as it now faces the beginning of the season of greatest circulation of the virus, driven by the heat and the rains, which favor the spread of the vector.

This was emphasized yesterday by the local representation of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), highlighting the effort made by the country to keep dengue cases under control and the support offered by this organization to the different actions being developed, including the training of health personnel.

It indicates that in response to the worrying increase in dengue cases in the region of the Americas in 2024, the Dominican Republic has reinforced its actions to combat this disease with the support of PAHO/WHO and highlights that so far this year, the countries of the region have reported more than 8.6 million cases of dengue, surpassing the 5.6 million in 2023.

Facing the challenge

In a press document, PAHO in the Dominican Republic indicates that the country is now facing the beginning of the season of increased dengue circulation, driven by heat and rains, which favor the spread of the vector.

To address this challenge, he recalled that the Ministry of Public Health launched last March 20 the Dominican Republic’s National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Dengue, based on PAHO’s Integrated Management Strategy (EGI) for the prevention and control of arboviral diseases.

He recalls that this plan seeks to strengthen the country’s capacity for early detection, clinical management of cases, intersectoral coordination and integrated vector management, with a cross-cutting axis of communication and community participation for behavioral change in dengue prevention.

Positive impact

It emphasizes that this integrated approach has shown to have a positive impact in controlling the spread of the disease and that political commitment at the highest level has been fundamental in preparing the country to face the threat of dengue and has been reflected in the intersectoral coordination between the Ministries of Health, Education, municipalities, academia, specialized medical societies and representatives of civil society.

He highlights that during 2024, PAHO/WHO, both the regional office and the national team, in coordination with the National Health Service (SNS) and universities, have supported the training of health professionals at different levels of care, including more than 1,200 doctors from provinces throughout the country and more than 570 medical and nursing students.

Collaboration

The PAHO/WHO representative in the Dominican Republic, Alba María Ropero Álvarez, highlighted the Organization’s collaboration in the deployment of communication and community participation campaigns to raise awareness among the population about the importance of their active and permanent participation in dengue prevention and early care seeking.

He said that PAHO has supported the design and reproduction of educational material for mass distribution to health personnel in emergency rooms, outpatient consultations and hospitalization, including algorithms for the clinical management of dengue cases.

In addition, it has supported vector control actions to reduce the populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit dengue, chikungunya and Zika, through the training of entomologists, epidemiologists and environmental health personnel and the organization of breeding ground elimination days.

He emphasizes that it is essential to maintain these interventions and the involvement of all governmental sectors and society to effectively control dengue.

The Vector Control Unit will continue its fogging programme this week with emphasis on Christ Church and St James.

When the exercise starts on Monday, June 10, the team will focus attention on Christ Church. The areas to be sprayed are Upper Carters Gap, Rollins Road, Bournes Land, Goodland Gardens, Highway U, and environs.

The following day, Tuesday, June 11, the team will make the first of four stops in St James when they fog West Terrace Avenues 1 to 16, West Terrace Heights, and surrounding districts.

A return to that parish on Wednesday, June 12, will see fogging at Wanstead Terrace 1 to 11 Avenues, Oxnards, Oxnards Heights, and environs.

The following day, Thursday, June 13, the Unit will spray Orange Hill, Orange Hill Development, and neighbouring districts.

The programme concludes on Friday, June 14, in the St James areas of Haynesville, Durants Village, and environs.

Fogging will run from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., each day. Householders are asked to assist in the control of the Aedes aegypti mosquito by opening all windows and doors to allow the fog to penetrate. Persons with respiratory problems are asked to protect themselves from inhaling the fog.

Pedestrians and motorists should proceed with caution when encountering fogging operations on the street and parents are instructed to prohibit children from playing in the fog or running behind the fogging machine.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to affected communities as soon as possible. (PR)

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Santo Domingo – The Minister of Housing and Buildings (Mived), Carlos Bonilla, endorsed the US$190 million loan agreement between the Dominican Republic and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) because he said it will be invested in health infrastructure.

According to the official, resources oriented to health are a requirement for the sustainable development of society.

He was invited by the Permanent Commission of Finance of the Chamber of Deputies as part of the process of socialization of the loan, pending approval. Before the Commission of legislators presided by Deputy José (Bertico) Santana, the Vice Minister of Mived, Ernesto Mejía, pointed out that they have already made the surveys of the places that require hospital constructions and first level primary care centers that require renovation.

Geneva.- The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, led by Vice Minister Miguel Rodríguez Viñas, actively participated in the Seventieth World Health Assembly at the United Nations Palace in Geneva, Switzerland.

Following a week of intensive negotiations, countries, including the Dominican Republic, reached consensus on a series of amendments to the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR) and committed to finalizing discussions on the Pandemic Agreement within one year.

During the general debate, Rodríguez Viñas commended the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts in organizing the Assembly, particularly in navigating the complex negotiations surrounding the IHR amendments and the Pandemic Agreement over the past two years. He stressed the ongoing imperative to bolster pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response systems in each Member State, within a cohesive, just, and inclusive global framework.

Additionally, he highlighted significant national initiatives, including the launch of the “National Strategic Health Plan 2030,” which prioritizes the prevention of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and the nationwide expansion of the HEARTS strategy, with an anticipated investment of $50 million.

The Dominican delegation also included Permanent Ambassador Virgilio Almánzar, Alternate Permanent Representative Ambassador María de Jesús Díaz Obregón, Health Issues Counselor Isabel Padilla, Maxine Moreu from the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, and Penélope Cisnero, International Cooperation Analyst from the Ministry of Public Health.

Santo Domingo.- In response to the alarming increase in dengue cases across the Americas in 2024, the Dominican Republic has strengthened its efforts to combat the disease with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

So far this year, the region has reported over 8.6 million dengue cases, surpassing the 5.6 million reported in 2023. As of May 31, 2024, the Dominican Republic alone has recorded 7,574 cases.

With the onset of the peak dengue season, characterized by heat and rain that facilitate the spread of the mosquito vector, the Ministry of Public Health launched the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Dengue on March 20. This plan, based on PAHO’s Integrated Management Strategy (EGI) for the prevention and control of arboviral diseases, aims to enhance early detection, clinical case management, intersectoral coordination, and integrated vector management. The plan also emphasizes communication and community participation to drive behavioral change in dengue prevention.

High-level political commitment has been crucial in preparing the country to tackle the dengue threat. This commitment is evident in the coordinated efforts of the ministries of Health and Education, local governments, academic institutions, specialized medical societies, and civil society representatives.

Vice President Raquel Peña has called on the Dominican people to join the fight against dengue by adhering to preventive measures in communities, schools, and workplaces.

Throughout 2024, PAHO/WHO, in collaboration with the National Health Service and universities, has supported the training of health professionals across different care levels. This includes training over 1,200 doctors from various provinces and more than 570 final-year medical and nursing students, thereby enhancing the diagnostic and clinical management capabilities for dengue.

“Quick and accurate decision-making in managing dengue patients is crucial to prevent progression to severe forms of the disease,” stated Dr. Victor Atallah, Minister of Public Health. “During an outbreak, preventing complications and deaths must be the top priority.”

Alba María Ropero Álvarez, PAHO/WHO representative in the Dominican Republic, emphasized the importance of communication and community participation campaigns to raise awareness about dengue prevention and early care seeking. “An informed population that eliminates mosquito breeding sites in their homes and stays informed through reliable sources is key to preventing dengue,” she said.

In a joint effort, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education launched the “Anti-Dengue Family” strategy. This initiative promotes preventive habits through educational talks aimed at students, teachers, and community leaders, turning them into advocates within their communities. Students contribute 60 hours of community work, significantly bolstering preventive and health promotion efforts.

PAHO has also supported the creation and distribution of educational materials to health personnel in emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, and hospitals, including clinical management algorithms for dengue cases.

Furthermore, PAHO has backed vector control measures to reduce the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. This includes training entomologists, epidemiologists, and environmental health personnel, and organizing mosquito breeding site elimination campaigns.

“We recognize the Dominican Republic’s efforts to enhance surveillance, prevention, control, and clinical management of dengue, as well as its commitment to combatting the disease,” said Ropero Álvarez. “Maintaining these interventions and the involvement of all government and societal sectors is essential to effectively control dengue.”

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But for the more than 6.5 million Americans who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease — and the people who support them — memory lapses are often the least of their problems. Many people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia also experience mood and behavior symptoms ranging from anxiety and depression to violent outbursts and psychosis.

Family members, caregivers, and even some medical providers often dismiss these so-called neuropsychiatric symptoms as acting out, with behavior that’s within an individual’s control. Although these symptoms can be very disruptive and overwhelming, they aren’t the individual’s fault or an extension of their personality — they are another manifestation of the disease.

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