Santo Domingo.– In response to the epidemiological alert for measles, pediatric doctors and infectious disease experts are urging authorities to actively promote and extend the vaccination process to communities and schools.

Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, can be effectively prevented through vaccination. According to Waldo Ariel Suero, President of the Dominican Medical College (CMD), the vaccination rates experienced a significant decline during the pandemic.

Despite the country not recording measles cases for several years, experts emphasize the importance of early action to prevent a potential virus outbreak. They stress the need for public education and widespread vaccination to mitigate the risk of an epidemic.

Measles is an epidemiological disease requiring mandatory notification, primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets during coughing, talking, or sneezing. If symptoms such as fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes occur, seeking prompt medical attention at the nearest health center is recommended.

It’s worth noting that in 2023, the Ministry of Public Health in the Dominican Republic issued an epidemiological alert for measles following cases reported in several American countries, although no confirmed contagion occurred locally.

Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance, Víctor Atallah, held a meeting with the Minister of Public Administration, Darío Castillo Lugo, to oversee the ongoing work and reform initiatives within the health sector.

This meeting is a part of the broader General Plan for Reform and Modernization of the Public Administration (Reformap), established by President Luís Abinader through decree number 149-21. It aligns with decree 284-21, declaring the reform and modernization of the Public Administration as a matter of high national interest, specifically within the health sector.

The Minister of Public Administration highlighted the progress made through the “Thematic Health Roundtable,” a platform dedicated to diagnosing issues and formulating actions to enhance the Dominican health system. Notably, the implementation of the National Strategic Health Plan (PLANDES 2030) has been a key focus.

It was emphasized that the continuity of the sectoral technical table was reaffirmed, consisting of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MISPAS), the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD), the National Competitiveness Council (CNC), the Ministry of Finance, the General Budget Directorate (Digepres), and the Ministry of Public Administration. This platform serves as a coordination space for identifying, executing, and monitoring reform activities outlined in the governance pillar of PLANDES 2030.

The actions outlined in this initiative encompass sectoral strategic alignment, reinforcing steering functions, and governance. Additionally, budget allocations are being considered to review the sectoral salary scale and implement technological enhancements for more efficient management.

Guyana is considering the hiring of foreign nurses to man the several hospitals that are under construction, even as hundreds of local nurses continue to migrate mainly to the United Kingdom (UK), a top government official said Wednesday. “Soon we may have to bring in nurses to work in the country- because, once those hospitals ...

The United States (US) on Wednesday donated 1,000 doses of Paxlovid, an oral pill that is used to treat COVID-19 patients with a high risk of severe illness or death, to Guyana, the embassy here said. The embassy said that medication complements a separate donation of 354,660 Pfizer vaccine doses. Speaking at the handover of ...

Santo Domingo.- The National Health Service (SNS) has announced that approximately 172 health centers within the Public Network are now offering new services, marking a historic development for these facilities. The expanded services include tomography scans, mammograms, newly equipped laboratories, dental units, and programs such as Early Detection for Hearing Deficits, Hypothermia Therapy, and Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

According to the SNS, the introduction of these services, many of which are implemented for the first time in various health centers and some for the first time in the Public Network, is part of a comprehensive strengthening initiative for over 192 hospitals and First Level Centers. This initiative involves an investment of nearly two billion pesos in state-of-the-art equipment, along with renovations and the recruitment of new personnel.

As of 2023, twelve hospitals now provide cutting-edge CT scans, with nine of them having this modern equipment for the first time. These hospitals include Vinicio Calventi, Toribio Bencosme, Padre Billini, Luis Morillo King, Taiwan March 19, Mario Tolentino Dipp, San Bartolomé, Estrella Ureña, and Municipal de Verón hospitals.

Additionally, the Morillo King Hospital in La Vega now offers mammography services for the first time. Margarita Paulino, the center’s director, expressed gratitude for these new facilities, especially benefiting economically disadvantaged patients who can now access these services within the hospital.

Moreover, hospitals like Santo Socorro, Moscoso Puello, Evangelina Rodríguez, and Estrella Ureña have acquired a mammogram for the first time. The Luis L. Bogaert Hospital has introduced echocardiogram services for the first time.

The expansion also includes the inauguration of new laboratory services in 16 health centers, eight hospitals, and eight Diagnostic Centers across various regions, contributing to the record figure of almost 25 million tests conducted last year in the Public Health Network.

Under the current SNS management, five Neonatal Intensive Care Units have been inaugurated for the first time at Ciudad Juan Bosch, Pedro E. de Marchena, Nuestra Señora de Regla, Inmaculada Concepción, and José Francisco Peña Gómez hospitals. These units have played a crucial role in the survival of more than three thousand newborns.

Innovative services such as Hypothermia Therapy and Early Detection of Hearing Deficit are now being implemented for the first time in the Public Health Network. Hypothermia Therapy is available at the Reynaldo Almánzar and San Lorenzo de Los Mina hospitals, achieving remarkable success in just seven months by liberating ten children from cerebral palsy. The Hearing Deficit program, initiated under the “Uniendo Voluntades” initiative led by the First Lady Raquel Arbaje since October 2022, has screened 27,944 patients. This program operates in hospitals such as Reynaldo Almánzar, Hugo Mendoza, Robert Reid, San Lorenzo de Los Mina, Arturo Grullón, Presidente Estrella Ureña, Marcelino Vélez, and Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia in Higüey.

The whole genome sequencing data from a wide range of Americans aims to address the historical lack of diversity in existing genomic datasets by focusing on previously under-represented groups. The U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded "All of Us" study turned up 1 billion genetic variants in total.

"Sequencing diverse populations can lead to new drug targets that are relevant to everyone," said Dr. Josh Denny, a study author and its chief executive. "It can also help uncover disparities that lead to specific treatments for people that are experiencing higher burdens of disease or different disease."

NEW STUDY FINDS DYSLEXIA IS LINKED TO 42 GENETIC VARIANTS

Although many genetic variants have no impact on health, nearly 4 million of the newly discovered differences in the genetic code are located in areas that may be tied to disease risk, the researchers reported in a series of papers published in Nature and related journals.

"This is huge," said Denny. The study aims to eventually collect DNA and other health data on 1 million people in hopes of better understanding genetic influences on health and disease.

Nearly 90% of genomic studies to date have been done in people of European ancestry, which has led to a narrow understanding of the biology of diseases and slowed the development of drugs and prevention strategies effective in diverse populations, the leaders of several NIH departments wrote in a related commentary.

"It's a huge gap, obviously, because most of the world's population is not of European ancestry," Denny said.

Recent studies have already shown how genetic diversity can impact disease risk. Variants in the APOL1 gene discovered in 2010 help account for 70% of the increased risk for chronic kidney disease and dialysis seen in people in the U.S. with sub-Saharan African ancestry.

Likewise, a class of drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors that dramatically lower very high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - the so-called bad cholesterol - were discovered by sequencing the genetic code of 5,000 people in Dallas of African ancestry.

Much more work is needed to understand how the new trove of genetic variants contributes to various health conditions, but the scientists believe they could be used to refine tools used to calculate a person's risk for disease.

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The Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence has made its first donation of equipment to the Paediatrics Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 

The 24 pieces of equipment valued at approximately $170,000 were officially handed over on Thursday by SCPE Barbados Director, Dr Clyde Cave to Consultant and Head of the QEH Pediatrics Department, Dr Angela Jennings. 

The QEH says this support from the Shaw Centre will assist efforts to improve the level of care provided for young patients and is another step in the partnership where the hospital is the recipient of medical support on several levels. 

Dr Cave, an honorary consultant and leading pediatrician said, “the journey is one toward excellence and the actual physical equipment is only one station along the way”. 

Giving her take on the donation, Dr Jennings explains the new equipment is a significant advancement and improvement and will go a long way to improving the level of care offered to children on the Pediatric ward. 

She’s also appealing to corporate Barbados to initiate more public-private sector partnerships to help address some of the hospital’s other critical needs. 

The donation includes infant scales, digital health-o-meters, measuring mats, medical carts, patient monitors and examination tables. 

Some of the successes of the SCPE programme to date include: 

• Specialist training of some 40 local nurses to be redeployed at the QEH and across Barbados’ health-care system.

• Four physicians trained in targeted, high-need paediatric subspecialties.

• The completion of six international observerships in quality improvement.

This donation is the first of many expected in the coming months, as the Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence continues to partner with provide support to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

(PR)

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On Monday, February 19, the team from the Vector Control Unit will visit a number of districts in St Andrew. They are Corbin’s Road, Lakes Road, Farrell Road, Isolation Road, Jordan Road, Franklin Doughlin Road, Babylon Road, Walkers, Bawden’s Road, and environs.

The following areas in St Peter will be fogged on Tuesday, February 20: French Village, Mount Brevitor, West Ring Road, Vuemont, Bow Drive, Inner Circle, Mile- and- a- Quarter, and surrounding districts.

On Wednesday, February 21, the St Peter districts of Maynard’s Road, Maynard’s Housing Area, Leslie Gardens, Carpenter’s Circle, Rose Hill, and environs will be sprayed.

The team will target the St Lucy districts of Trent’s Road, Hannays Road, Swampy Town, Hope Bridge Road, and neighbouring areas on Thursday, February 22.

Fogging will conclude for the week on Friday, February 23, in St Thomas in White Hall Road, Country View, Hill View Drive, and environs.

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 spray.

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, it will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.

(PR)

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The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has now acquired modern equipment that can use ultrasonic energy to break up large and complex kidney stones without the need for open surgery, the health care institution said. The GPHC said so far more than 20 persons have benefitted from the state-of-the art Swiss Lithoclas Master ultrasonic lithotripter ...