More than 13% of homes in the country lack piped drinking water, most of which is not connected to sanitary sewage networks. In the most extreme degrees, defecation is still practiced in the Dominican Republic without properly disposing of it. It can become a source of diarrhea outbreaks, including acute cholera or amoeba. Both can lead to death, and the watercourses that cross thousands of places receive all kinds of waste from their inhabitants. Rivers, streams, and creeks have become the final destination of filth that can reach the depositaries’ digestive tracts or those who live downstream of the waterways.

In the Dominican countryside, most of the population deserves a healthy and decent life, which would only be possible by providing low-cost rural aqueducts. Some successful pilot schemes should give way to a more far-reaching sanitation program. The health and lives of many people are at stake.

In a document, he expressed that the operations and interventions have impacted 5,670 people, with the application of vaccines, 4,457, kit with liquid and paste chlorine to purify water, placement of oral rehydration serum, and prevention. He said that the laboratory results of the Bahoruco and La Palmita rivers showed positive results for fecal coliforms, E. coli, and pseudomonas but negative for vibrio cholera. “However, we recommend not to consume these waters given the contamination.”

He assures that the health authorities “approach this situation with the utmost seriousness. Our medical teams are on the ground, attending to each case with the objective of providing the appropriate treatment to preserve the lives of patients.”

Dr. Nelson Rodriguez Monegro
Refused to admit
Since Saturday 4, the Ministry of Health has been notified by the Provincial Directorate about the appearance of this outbreak but has insisted that it was amebao or shigelas. The population blamed Inapa for the problem due to carelessness with the collapsed aqueduct.

The doctor had already said.
What is happening is an outbreak of cholera, given that the amoeba and echerichacolis do not have those characteristics, said Nelson Rodriguez Monegro, former director of the National Health Service (SNS), before the report.

“It is worrying and calls attention to the attitude of the authorities, which is apparently their norm, in the face of an epidemic outbreak. At the time, the same thing happened with dengue,” he said.

He recalled that they began by denying the increase in the number of epidemic cases, then that “everything was under control, that the cases are decreasing, and the opposite is true. He warned that these diseases have different characteristics than cholera. He explained that the parasitosis has a fever, gas, abdominal pain, willful desire to evacuate, pain in the hypogastrium, semi-solid evacuations with mucus, and may be accompanied by blood.

People with cholera present vomiting without nausea, abundant watery evacuations similar to rice water, and there is no abdominal pain. They may have muscle cramps due to loss of electrolytes.

“They are different pictures, and the diagnosis is made with laboratory tests. Without a doubt, it is cholera.”

The 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has formally agreed to back Saudi Arabia’s bid to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh and the establishment of an international water organisation,  in exchange for support in a range of areas including combatting climate change and boosting trade, investment and food security, according to a joint statement. The leaders declared ...

Barahona.- The ongoing outbreak of diarrheal illness in the La Ciénaga municipality and other communities in the Barahona province of the Dominican Republic may be exacerbated by the heavy rains caused by a potential tropical cyclone. The Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, has expressed concerns about the impact of the rains on the already dire situation.

Rivera stated that they are aware that the rains could worsen the outbreak, and they have been holding meetings with members of neighborhood associations in the affected area to warn them against consuming water directly from rivers. He urged the population in Barahona to consume only water provided by the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewage (Inapa) and advised boiling water before consumption and ensuring thorough cooking of food to prevent further casualties.

The minister assured that health teams are continuing to support the affected communities, and he announced that they would provide an update on the total number of deaths from the outbreak and other relevant details at noon on Friday.

Meanwhile, the potential tropical cyclone has brought heavy rains to various locations in the Barahona province, which is under a yellow alert, along with seven other provinces in the Southern region of the Dominican Republic. Carlos Confidente, Regional Director of Civil Defense, reported that evacuations have not been necessary so far, but the authorities are monitoring the situation closely. They have been clearing ravines to prevent flooding and providing guidance to residents to prepare for possible emergencies.

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Health in the Dominican Republic has issued a call to action in response to the anticipated heavy rains expected over the coming weekend. They are urging the population to take proactive measures to mitigate potential health risks associated with inclement weather. The Ministry has activated its Prevention and Rapid Response Plan and is coordinating efforts to address potential health hazards linked to heavy rainfall.

During periods of intense rainfall, the country typically experiences a surge in epidemic outbreaks of diseases, including dengue, malaria, chikungunya, acute respiratory infections, leptospirosis, acute diarrheal diseases, and gastrointestinal issues. To counter these threats, the Ministry is advocating for several precautionary measures to be taken.

Firstly, they recommend chlorinating drinking water to ensure its safety. Additionally, they advise checking the expiration dates of food items, especially canned goods, and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before consumption. Cooking food thoroughly is also emphasized.

The Ministry encourages residents to have an adequate supply of medications on hand, particularly for individuals with chronic illnesses or those undergoing treatment. People should be cautious around stagnant water, mud, or flooded areas, as these can increase the risk of contracting leptospirosis.

In terms of general safety, it’s advised to avoid touching electrical cables and wet walls. Homes should be secured, including doors, windows, ceilings, and any objects in the vicinity that could pose a danger. Special attention should be given to protecting vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities or immunosuppressed conditions.

This proactive stance comes as the director of the National Meteorological Office (Onamet), Gloria Ceballos, reports that an atmospheric phenomenon approaching the country has a 60% probability of developing into a tropical depression or cyclone. The climatic event is expected to affect border regions, provinces in the southwest, and Santo Domingo, starting on Friday. Consequently, the COE Emergency Operations Center has placed 14 provinces on alert, heightening preparedness efforts.

A 2-day workshop, focusing on the elimination of violence against women and children, is being held in Carriacou under the Grenada Spotlight Initiative

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“The department held a dental health community outreach and was able to hold activities in each parish within the tri-island state of Grenada for the first time”

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NLA must be highly commended for their proactive approach to employee wellness

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Zinzee Noel, a Youth Disability Advocate from Grenada, recognised that consultations like this are a powerful step towards a society that believes that all people are born equal

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Barahona.- The Ministry of Public Health in the Dominican Republic is investigating an outbreak of acute diarrhea in the community of La Ciénaga, Barahona province. The outbreak is believed to be related to the collapse of the local aqueduct, which left a significant portion of the population without water service.

Health personnel are conducting on-site water quality analyses of rivers, canals, and aqueducts in the affected area to determine the presence of bacteria. They have advised residents to refrain from consuming water from these sources until the water service is restored.

Additionally, investigations into the cause of death of a person of Haitian nationality revealed that the individual was immunocompromised with advanced-stage Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

In a separate report, the Ministry of Public Health provided an update on dengue cases in the country. As of Epidemiological Week 44, there have been 1,057 new cases of dengue reported, with a total of 18,389 cases and 19 deaths. Dengue cases have decreased in 127 municipalities, and 442 beds are available for dengue patient care.

Furthermore, the ministry emphasized the availability of BCG vaccines for newborns, which prevent tuberculosis. These vaccines are administered within 72 hours of birth and have high coverage, reaching over 106 percent in the population. It was highlighted that parents can take their children to health centers for vaccination, even up to four years of age.

The Santo Socorro Health Center in the National District is one of the main locations for administering the BCG vaccine.