Health

2024 Junior Chef Cook-Off Competition Finalists Announced

The 10 finalists for this year’s ‘Feed The Future’ Junior Cook-Off Competition have been announced.

During a press conference yesterday morning, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) Chief Executive Officer, Andrea Franklin, said this year’s challengers are Kanye Clarke-Forde, Teneal Dawson, Aliah Hazzard, Matthew Howell, Kenyada Kellman, Omari Layne, Javonte Patrick, Shacoby Riley, Shari Weekes, and Makayla White. They will vie for a spot in the final three to compete on Saturday, October 5.

BTMI’s Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Aprille Thomas, noted that the final 10 were chosen from 26 entrants, and their ages ranged from 18 to 24.

She said in addition to the food preparation challenge, this year’s competition has a new element, a mixology-challenge round, which will see competitors utilising Barbadian rum, in keeping with the Barbados Food and Rum Festival.

Ms Thomas also disclosed the prizes the winner of the Junior Cook-Off Competition will receive. These include $3,000 in cash, a scholarship for an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts, at the Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality Institute, and an internship at one of Barbados’ premium fine dining restaurants.

Speaking about the “Feed the Future” Junior Cook-Off Competition, she said the initiative tangibly empowers the upcoming culinary talent of Barbados by providing important training opportunities that serve as a strong foundation for participants’ professional growth in the culinary arts field.

Director Thomas expressed gratitude to the Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality Institute for providing this year’s competitors with the opportunity to gain National Vocational Qualification certification in Level 2 Food Preparation and Cookery, which is accredited to the Caribbean Vocational Qualification, upon successful completion of the training phase.

“For us, it’s really good that we’re able to, each year, advance the programme and offer even more to everyone participating,” she said.

Ms. Thomas also thanked Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited for being a title sponsor for three consecutive years.

The finalists were encouraged to give of their best, to listen, and to take in all the training and opportunities afforded them throughout the activities leading up to the competition, as well as to have fun.

Makayla White and Kanye Clarke-Forde spoke about how it felt to be chosen as finalists. Makayla said: “I am very nervous, like shaking nervous, but at the same time, I’m very excited to see what it brings and what it brings out of me, and the most exciting part for me is the learning and how I can grow as an aspiring chef.”

Kanye remarked: “I feel amazing to show others my skill at the culinary arts and I’m excited to get started. I’m willing to learn and I’m looking forward to learning from others who have mastered the craft.” (PR/GIS)

Caption: Nine of the ten finalists of the ‘Feed The Future’ 2024 Junior Cook-Off Competition at the press conference

Health

Antimicrobial Resistance Week, Mon Nov 18 – Sun Nov 24

Health

More Nurses Arrive From Ghana

Barbados’ nursing complement has been boosted with the arrival of 155 nurses from Ghana at the Grantley Adams International Airport, yesterday.

The nurses, who were accompanied by Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health, Adelaide Ntim, were greeted by Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, and other officials.

This is the third cohort of Ghanaian nurses to be dispatched to Barbados since 2020, to address the local nursing shortage. Ninety-five nurses came in the first group during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, while 120 more arrived in 2022, some of whom are still employed here and have made Barbados their home.

Minister Walcott explained that the nurses would be assigned to various specialty areas of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ primary care facilities. These areas include cardiology, accident and emergency theatre, midwifery, psychiatric medicine, and geriatrics.

“So, we’re looking for these nurses to help improve the overall delivery of our healthcare,” stated Dr. Walcott.

Ms. Ntim said Ghana had a surplus of nurses, some of whom were not even employed. She said she welcomed the partnership with Barbados.

The Deputy Minister of Health added that nurses from the previous cohorts proved that they were more than capable of doing their jobs, and expressed confidence that the most recent cohort would also “deliver”. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, in discussion with Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health, Adelaide Ntim, at the Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday. Senator Walcott was on hand to welcome 155 Ghanaian nurses to Barbados

Health

CHANGES TO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

The Ministry of Health will soon roll out a number of changes to the island’s primary healthcare system, in order to drastically address the high numbers of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) seen among the Barbadian population.
This announcement was made by Senior Minister of Health and Wellness, the Most Honourable Dr. Jerome Walcott, as he presented a token of appreciation to Dr. Trevor Hassell in recognition of his outstanding efforts in educating Barbadians on the importance of addressing non-communicable diseases NCDs.
Walcott said, “I have a personal mandate that we should try to reduce the premature adult mortality from NCDs by a third. It is not impossible, it can be done, and in the course of the next few weeks, you will gradually see a roll out of parts of this process.”

He stressed “You will see the plans for primary healthcare; everybody is focused on QEH and tertiary healthcare, but the fundamentals of healthcare have to do with primary healthcare. The ability of early prevention, detection to get better health outcomes. We are looking at that in a project to be discussed soon.”
The Health Minister also revealed that additional screening for a variety of NCDs and cancers will also be made available.
“Within the ministry we are looking at a number of screening processes. We are looking to roll out before the end of this month a colonic screening process initially in two polyclinics, and thereafter we expand. We are looking at a cervical cancer screening process; we are looking at providing mammography services within the QEH again as was previously done up until 2008 where persons can have access to mammograms again for early detection and treatment for cancers.