According to the president of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP), Marilyn Rice-Bowen, a canvas of their membership has highlighted concerns about insufficient pension funds for many retirees, with some receiving less than $1 000 per month as inflation eats into their pensions.

“And what a lot, quite a few seniors always say to us [is] if they only knew… and then there were situations where people would say to us that they didn’t expect to live to 60, 65. When they were 26 and 28, they didn’t expect to live to 60 and 65, so they never planned. In addition to that, there are people who just simply didn’t plan for retirement,” she said over the weekend at the launch of BARP’s Towards 2050 conference which will be held on April 6.

Rice-Bowen said many seniors had not adequately prepared for retirement, leading to financial strain in their later years.

“As we speak now of the 40s, the 40s to 59s, that’s why it’s so important that we are driving them. We’re not going to bully but we are going to drive them, we’re going to encourage them to plan. That’s why it’s so important they plan because if they do not plan, they’re going to find themselves in a really strange and very uncomfortable space when they reach our age, my age.”

Her comments were supported by Elder Affairs Minister Kirk Humphrey, who underscored the importance of incentivising retirement planning but emphasised the need for individual responsibility.

“But I do think that the whole planning process requires everybody. I think people need to plan individually. And I do think it makes sense to incentivise, from the public sector standpoint, persons to be able to do it. It just makes sense,” he said. “I think you have to find a way to balance what you can afford financially and what society needs to be able to afford. But I anticipate and I look forward to the day when we’re in a position to do something like that again.”

Rice-Bowen stressed the importance of planning and urged individuals to attend seminars and seek guidance on retirement planning, emphasising the need for proactive financial management.

“So, rather than say, ‘we can wait to see if the government gives me a tax incentive for the rebate on pension plans’, if it’s not happening, go ahead, and put your money in your pension plan because you will be the beneficiary. If it does happen along the way, well, it’s gravy. But do not sit and wait for the frills. Get involved and do it yourself,” she urged.

Meanwhile, Humphrey said the social services in Barbados have had to evolve as a result of the challenges posed by an ageing population.

According to him, Barbados has been witnessing a notable increase in the number of older individuals seeking support from welfare services, adding that his Ministry of People’s Empowerment and Elder Affairs, which is responsible for social services on the island, is aware of the need for proactive measures to address this trend.

“The shifting, the transition in society is impacting all the delivery of social services. I think the other thing that we have to be mindful of in social services is that the cost of caring for a child is not the same as the cost of caring for an older person,” he said.

“If you’re caring for a senior person, it costs maybe two or three times as much. We’re going to anticipate that even our budget has to increase because caring for older persons is a lot more expensive. The capacity to care is going to shift.”

(RG)

The post Harsh reality appeared first on Barbados Today.

New biotech newsletter launching this Thursday. Don’t miss out.

Hello, everyone. Damian here with a look at a pivotal FDA approval, good news for a small biotech company, and why not all buyouts are worth writing home about.

Read the rest…

Santo Domingo.- To propel holistic growth in nursing, the Diabetes, Obesity, and Specialties Medical Center (CEMDOE) has launched a training initiative. This program focuses on bolstering competencies, spanning technical proficiency and interpersonal abilities, in line with its recently introduced Nursing Management Model.

Comprising eight core pillars, the program features five modules dedicated to fostering these competencies, ensuring that CEMDOE’s nursing personnel maintain a standard of excellence in care provision. This initiative adheres to the benchmarks set by the Joint Commission International, underscoring the medical center’s commitment to upholding international standards of quality and patient safety.

The conceptualization and design of this program were spearheaded by Dr. Berniza Calderón, Senior Research Manager; Damaris Durán, Nursing Manager; Gricely Pozo, Medical Director; Maril Núñez, Director of Human Management and Transformation; and Nilaine Alejo, Senior Human Management Manager.

“This launch signifies a significant stride in our continuous mission to enhance the healthcare experience, acknowledging wholeheartedly the pivotal role that nurses play in attending to the needs of our patients and their families,” elucidated Dr. Calderón.

Additionally, the specialist underscored that in the Dominican Republic, the ratio stands at fewer than 4 nurses for every 10,000 inhabitants, with only 30% of those employed in the healthcare sector possessing a university degree.

As for the supplementary workshops integrated into the program, they encompass a diverse array of topics, including care plan design, the significance of reporting and analyzing patient safety incidents, tools for patient and family education, evidence-based nursing practices, and the provision of compassionate care.

CEMDOE undertakes this endeavor with the overarching objective of elevating the quality of care received by its patients throughout the entirety of their healthcare journey, recognizing the indispensable role that nursing staff play in facilitating this process.

“The BNA appreciates the inclusion of provisions for long leave benefits and the uniform allowance….It is heartening to see efforts being made to recognise and support nurses who play a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of the community,” BNA President Dr Fay Parris told Barbados TODAY. 

“The BNA eagerly anticipates the swift continuation of national compact negotiations. This collaborative endeavour between the government and the BNA is significant in addressing critical issues that impact healthcare professionals.”

Parris explained the compact discussions stem from the BNA’s 87th Annual General Meeting last month. Recommendations included establishing two nursing levels – Registered Nurse and Senior Registered Nurse – and salary restructuring and non-financial incentives.

“These comprehensive compact strategies aim to provide incentives to enhance nurse retention and ultimately contribute to a more robust healthcare system,” she said.

In the Budget speech last week, Mottley said nurses with over 15 years of continuous service would benefit from longer vacation leave. She also announced a National Compact with the BNA to recruit and retain nurses through various financial, professional, and personal development incentives.

“We anticipate that this compact…will result in more nurses opting to remain in the health sector at home and to continue providing quality care,” Mottley said. She added that as “an act of good faith”, nurses will receive an additional six weeks’ vacation after 15 years of service.

Addressing uniform delays, the prime minister pledged her administration would provide nurses with a uniform allowance.

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Santo Domingo.- Sargassum arriving on Caribbean islands possesses high levels of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and antiviral properties, paving the way for the development of new pharmaceutical and cosmetic products derived from this macroalgae. Idania Rodeiro Guerra, Scientific Vice Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICIMAR) of the Cuban Environment Agency, emphasized this during her keynote lecture titled “Obtaining Bioactive Molecules from Plants and Seaweed: Principles and Case Studies,” delivered as part of her exchange visit to the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC).

Rodeiro highlighted that sargassum’s hydroalcoholic extract demonstrates antiherpetic activity by inhibiting the replication of herpes viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2. This discovery paves the way for the development of drugs for oral consumption or topical application, offering a novel alternative for utilizing sargassum resources.

These findings were published in an article by Rodeiro and her team in the renowned scientific journal “Journal of Applied Phycology,” published by Springer-Nature.

Furthermore, Rodeiro presented advancements from studies conducted within the Thalassia project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA) in Cuba.

The conference was organized by the Sargasso Interdisciplinary Research Group, led by INTEC research professor Ulises Jáuregui-Haza, who also coordinates the Doctorate in Environmental Sciences at INTEC. The event saw participation from specialists, professors, researchers, and students from the university.

INTEC has been at the forefront of sargassum research, with projects such as the chemical characterization of sargassum found on Dominican Republic beaches, the production and evaluation of sargassum-activated carbon for water decontamination, and the development of organic liquid bio-fertilizers from sargassum, which have shown promising results in the banana industry.

Additionally, an engineering team is working on the Quisqueya Sat project, aimed at developing the first Dominican satellite equipped with a high-resolution camera system. This satellite will forecast the arrival date, location, and volume of sargassum on Caribbean beaches each season, facilitating timely collection and mitigating its impact on tourism in the country and the region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd on Monday confirmed that government has given approval to a private company to hire health care workers, and said that the company could now do so from any other country not just Bangladesh. “They have amended that…It can be Latin America and the Caribbean, it could be Asia. It is ...

The team from the Vector Control Unit will fog areas in St Michael, for the entire week, starting on Monday, March 25, with Erdiston Drive, Sunset Drive, Sunrise Drive, Pine Gardens, Elizabeth Drive, Pine Hill Road, Cedar Hill Road, and surrounding communities.

The following day, Tuesday, March 26, the Unit will visit Lascelles Terrace, Princess Royal Avenue, Pine Plantation Road, and neighbouring districts.

It will then go into Barclays Terrace, Wildey Avenue Nos.1 to 8, Meadow Road, Wharfdale Road, Golden Rock Road, and Newton Crescent, on Wednesday, March 27.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Thursday, March 28, when the Unit sprays Smith Avenue, Main Port Road, Stanley Terrace, Golden Rock Road, and Pine East West Road.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the fog.

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 communities affected in the soonest possible time.

The post Fogging schedule for March 25 – 28 appeared first on Barbados Today.

March 21 is recognised as World Down Syndrome Day as global attention is drawn to the many children and adults who have the condition caused by triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

Across various social media, Barbadians from every walk of life were ‘rocking their socks’ in the public awareness campaign dubbed Rock Your Socks.

The colourful show of support for the Down syndrome community makes for compelling images, with the usual clicks and likes. But forgive those among us who harbour a measure of cynicism about this show.

From people working in government offices and private sector entities, from supermarkets to law enforcement offices – the colourful socks were the trend for the day.

We do not desire to diminish in any way the nobility of the cause, for any effort that brings attention to the challenges of those in our community who are marginalised, is a good thing.

The wearing of the colourful socks has blossomed into a very commercialised event, with street vendors and store owners stocking up for the expected boost in sales of the mix-matched socks.

One cannot blame them; this is what business is about. Commercialisation is what maintains Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Old Year’s Night as such valued periods on our calendars.

President of the Barbados Down Syndrome Association (BDSA) Asha Alleyne-Renwick assures that the sales from vendors and merchants ahead of World Down Syndrome Day represent an important source of funding for the BDSA. 

Mrs Alleyne-Renwick, a teacher, parent of a child with Down syndrome and respected advocate for those with the condition, has been a vocal cheerleader for this community. While encouraged by the growing support for the day and the Rock Your Socks campaign, Mrs Alleyne-Renwick too wants the businesses that benefit from the boost in sock sales to ensure that some of those funds are channelled to the BDSA.

The advocate appealed: “We are not at that stage yet, and we understand that is a situation that does take time . . . . In the meantime, we are here raising our funds every year for the Rock Your Socks campaign. So, when you see vendors, merchants and individuals selling socks, we appeal to them to give back to the association.”

We too join in that call. Our urging also is to not simply view the day to publish the photographs and soothe our conscience that we have done our social good for the month or the year.

As the BDSA president pointed out: “While it is financially beneficial to some to sell socks, they must realise that they’re only selling socks because there are individuals with Down syndrome living among them and they do have a social and a moral responsibility to give back to the association.”

The cause of the Down syndrome community in Barbados is representative of the challenges confronted by the many disabled and special needs persons among us.

According to the last census data, there are approximately 11 546 Barbadians living with some form of disability. Though there are many examples of those from the disabled community who have reached prominent heights in Barbados, such as former President of the Senate Kerryann Ifill, blind attorney-at-law Janeil Odle, and current Government Senator Andwele Boyce, there are thousands of others who are not so privileged.

As Senator Boyce wrote in a 2021 article published in Barbados TODAY, “Living with any kind of disability in a country like Barbados, where multiple barriers to full inclusion remain, can come with a myriad of challenges, a lack of social and legislative recognition, which necessitate the call for accommodations and adaptation.”

Disabled people in Barbados also require and should demand all the benefits afforded to other Barbadians. They want job opportunities, equal access to housing, health care services, education, public transportation and the full range of services that are provided to others.

The disabled, including those with Down syndrome, do not want tokenism or demonstrations of support that are meant to assuage the consciences of others. They want and deserve full inclusion.

The post Rock your support every day appeared first on Barbados Today.

Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Víctor Atallah, emphasized that the country possesses an advantageous position to combat dengue effectively, provided all sectors unite with a shared vision and coordinated preventive measures.

During a meeting to unveil the National Plan for Dengue to various institutions encompassing public, private, and civil society sectors, attended by members of the Health Cabinet and the COE, Dr. Atallah underscored the potential to mitigate the negative impact of dengue in the country through timely preventive actions.

“While the dengue situation in the region presents challenges, our nation stands in a favorable position, allowing each of us to play a crucial role in finding solutions. With shared responsibilities and ensured resource availability, we can address any situation,” he emphasized.

Dr. Atallah stressed the importance of community integration, involving civil society, the private sector, the Medical College, academic institutions, and government collaboration to combat dengue collectively.

“It’s imperative for the Ministry to not tackle dengue alone. We all share a responsibility and commitment to our nation. Community integration through various avenues like academia, schools, churches, community leadership, and family involvement is crucial for dengue prevention through education, waste management, and support from international organizations such as PAHO, USAID, among others,” he added.

The “National Plan for Dengue” is structured around two main programmatic lines: social interventions (debris removal, fumigation) and prompt care, emphasizing health personnel training, academia integration, and care protocol updates.

Dr. Eladio Pérez, Vice Minister of Collective Health, highlighted the importance of providing support and guidance to the population for prevention and early detection to prevent severe cases and ensure effective care protocols.

PAHO’s representative in the country, Dr. Alba María Ropero, affirmed the organization’s commitment to providing comprehensive support for dengue management, focusing on intersectoral coordination, resource advocacy, capacity building, and clinical management.

Erdwin Robert Olivares, Director of Operations of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), reiterated the entity’s dedication to coordinating social intervention efforts with other organizations.

Representatives from various sectors including the Catholic Church, Dominican Council of Evangelical Unity (CODUE), Ministry of Agriculture, Association of Private Clinics (ANDECLIP), and others expressed their support for the strategy and emphasized the need for continuous preventive actions.

Notable attendees included Santiago Hazin, director of SENASA, Dr. Edinson Feliz, director of the Metropolitan Health Service, Vice Ministers of Health José Antonio Matos and Miguel Rodríguez Viñas, alongside other officials and managers.