Health

Ageing A Major Concern For Government

With one in every five Barbadians now over age 60 and one in every four over 65 years, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, believes this should cause “a bit of concern”.

He emphasised this last weekend while delivering the feature address at the conference titled ‘Towards 2050 Securing My Future Protecting My Legacy’, which was held jointly by his Ministry and the Barbados Association of Retired Persons, at the Hilton Barbados Resort, Needhams Point, St. Michael.

“It means that Barbados is actually getting older, at a rate that even though we anticipate it in ageing, it’s at a rate that we did not anticipate, and we must continue to plan for it,” said the Minister as he shared a “few thoughts” with participants.

Deeming the seminar as important, he said: “People may think that we are having this conversation because persons are now 40 to 59 years old, but I really think we need to have this conversation just because people are born and because we’re here. And, the reality of planning for getting older should begin from the day you were born. And the reason that most of us find ourselves in a spot of bother is because we don’t start the plan from the day we were born.”

While also stressing the future is not what it used to be, Mr. Humphrey said: “We had anticipated, as children, that when you get older that, as an older person, your children or your grandchildren would have taken care of you. We now know that that is not happening. Those systems have all been dissipated, and surely they have broken down.

“We anticipated that with a certain amount of older persons that the State would be in a position to do that. But at the rate at which we are ageing, the State will not be able to do it on its own. We expected that in our constituencies and in our communities, people would step up and take care of those who needed help the most. And, we’ve also seen that that is not happening. Therefore, the future that we had envisioned is not the future that we’re going to live. It requires that we start making substantial changes now.”

The Minister offered some suggestions to participants interested in planning for their retirement and an older age. Stating that it was not expected that persons would have a lot of money, he said: “But we do anticipate that people will have to be able to at least identify a family member or two, who they hope could help them as they get older. Or, if you get your gratuity payout, do not go and splurge.”

Also alluding to the role of the State, Minister Humphrey said it now also called for the State to find “a new way to be able to protect people, even in circumstances where they don’t recognise themselves, that they are being taken advantage of”.

Stressing it would require a conversation with the public as it required a relationship of trust, he added: “I think the relationship between BARP and the Government, between Soroptimist, between Red Cross, between any of the agencies that offer services to the public, for older persons for seniors must be built on trust.

“And, the Government will then continue to empower these organisations, but I feel that we now have to have a deeper trust relationship with the general public, so that we can encourage people and you know, to plan for their own retirement, to plan their future and so on.”

Participants were reminded that Government brought on 420 elder care workers to join the existing 200 home care workers that were at the National Assistance Board, that they have been doing a very good job in terms of taking care of some of the older persons.

However, Mr. Humphrey, lamenting that some families were no longer taking responsibility, said: “For this to work, we need everybody to be on the same page. And people have to take up their own responsibilities while the Government continues to be able to support it.”

Agencies which care for older persons were also placed on notice that Government would not entertain persons taking advantage of them.

Minister Humphrey stressed: “Let it be known that we have a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to anybody taking advantage of older persons, of our seniors, who would have done so much for us, and now in the golden years do not deserve a lot of the treatment that they are now getting….

“If a person has responsibility for taking care of a senior, but then they are borrowing money from that senior; that’s unacceptable. If you have responsibility for a senior and then you are taking the person’s pension check, you’re cashing it, many times without the consent of the family, that is unacceptable. If you go to the supermarket to shop for them and you also shop for yourself with their money without letting them know, it is unacceptable. ” (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey (second right) in conversation with BARP President, Marilyn Rice-Bowen (left), Special Advisor on Elder Affairs, Cynthia Forde (second from left), and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Jehu Wiltshire.

Health

Excitement builds for CIBC Caribbean’s Walk for the Cure 2024

Excitement is building as planning has commenced in earnest for this year’s edition of the Caribbean’s largest cancer fundraiser, CIBC Caribbean’s Walk for the Cure.

Walk Managers across the bank’s 11-member footprint have been meeting with their committees and fine-tuning this year’s fundraising activities aimed at surpassing the over USD$450 000 raised in support of cancer care and support organizations across the region last year.

In addition to donations and sponsorship other fundraising activities held around the region include Paint for the Cure, Hike for the Cure and Golf for the Cure.

“Since its modest beginning in 2012, Walk for the Cure has raised over USD$4 million across our regional footprint. Every penny raised and donated has been shared among cancer care organizations and charities committed to the prevention and early detection of the disease, to education and outreach and to the care of persons with cancer and their families that are impacted,” said Mark St. Hill, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer and Chair of its charitable arm, the FirstCaribbean ComTrust Foundation which hosts the walk along with regional partners.

He praised staff members who eagerly volunteer every year to ensure the walk comes off successfully. “Your efforts, strengthened by the scores of dedicated corporate sponsors and individual contributions have seen us make a real difference in the lives of persons with cancer, their families and care givers. It is not an exaggeration when I say that your collective efforts have saved lives”.

Trustee of the FirstCaribbean ComTrust Foundation and Director of Corporate Communications at CIBC Caribbean, Debra King said the annual event was a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to the communities where they are located.

“No other activity more clearly demonstrates our commitment to our communities than Walk for the Cure which yearly attracts thousands of walkers and runners across the region. I am hopeful that again this year our sponsors and thousands of supporters around the region will rally to this cause resulting in record numbers on the roads and breaking records with our fundraising as well,” she stated.

The walk began as part of the celebrations to mark the bank’s 10th anniversary in 2012 and takes place across its 11-member footprint.

The funds generated from the walk are used primarily to assist with the purchase and maintenance of equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.

They are also used to provide assistance, care and counselling to patients and their families as well as to raise awareness, and stress the importance of early detection, through education campaigns across the region. (PR)

Health

Gastrointestinal Illness On The Rise

Gastrointestinal illness continues to increase, and health officials have identified a new virus cause among lab samples – rotavirus.

This rise in cases, in adults and children, has been seen since late April until present.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness reported that for the diarrheal samples tested, three samples from late May and early June showed the presence of rotavirus, in addition to the bacterial foodborne pathogens that have been previously identified. Rotavirus is a very contagious agent spread by contact with objects or persons contaminated with infected stool.

Vomiting was a prominent symptom for many persons, according to health authorities.

As a result, members of the public are being urged to employ proper hand hygiene methods, such as washing their hands regularly, especially before eating, and to continue to be cautious when purchasing ready-to-eat food items.

The uptick in cases in persons older than five years moved from 34 at the end of April, to 76 cases in the week ending May 11, 2024.

Since then, weekly numbers have been falling, most recently to 46 cases in the week ending June 15, 2024, but are still above the alert threshold. At this time of the year, the alert level for this age group is fewer than eight cases.

In children under five years old, the number of cases has moved from eight for the week ending April 27, to peaking at 27 cases in the week ending May 18, 2024.

Persons are encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and dry them with disposable tissue, especially after changing nappies, using the toilet, or before eating. If soap and water are not available, the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is recommended.

Those who purchase items to eat should ensure that sellers conduct appropriate food handling practices, such as protecting food from flies and other vectors; using suitable utensils to touch food; and maintaining hot or cold items at the correct temperatures. Hot foods must be kept above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold foods at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Health officials further advise that people keep unwashed hands away from the eyes, nose, and mouth, and to generally avoid touching these areas as germs can enter the body this way. (PR/GIS)

Health

Cannabis Legislation explained at the NCSA Panel Discussion

While doctors in Barbados can prescribe cannabis, they must follow a stringent legal process and obtain the necessary permissions from the authorities.

Superintendent Anthony Warner of The Barbados Police Service made this clear while speaking at The National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) panel discussion titled “The Grassroots of Medicinal and Recreational Cannabis.” The event brought together various stakeholders to discuss the evolving landscape of cannabis legislation in Barbados.

Addressing what he said was a common misconception about the role of law enforcement in interpreting legislation, Warner emphasized that the police are not responsible for interpreting the law but for enforcing it within the framework established by the state. “It probably would be a dangerous thing if you have to leave it to the police to interpret the law because they might do it in their own interest,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of adherence to the legal standards set by the state.

One of the key topics discussed was the recent amendment to the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act CAP 131, which introduces a more nuanced approach to handling minor cannabis offences. Warner clarified that while the possession of any amount of cannabis remains illegal, the amendment, specifically section 6A, introduces a fixed penalty system for individuals found with 14 grams or less of cannabis. This system allows police officers to issue a ticket instead of making an arrest, provided the individual does not challenge the nature of the substance.

“Before, if you got any amount, a stem, a seed, a stalk, the police could have arrested you for the smallest amount of cannabis. What the law does now is tell us to give a different approach on how the police would treat that type of offence,” Warner explained.

Addressing the community’s concerns about cannabis use and the role of medical practitioners, Warner stressed the legal requirements for prescribing medicinal cannabis. He noted that while doctors can prescribe cannabis, they must follow a stringent legal process and obtain the necessary permissions from the authorities. This ensures that the use of cannabis remains regulated and does not slip into misuse or abuse.

The Superintendent also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the police and the community. He believes that such interactions foster mutual understanding and trust, making it safer and more comfortable for citizens to communicate with law enforcement.

Warner provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of cannabis legislation in Barbados. His insights highlighted the balance the law seeks to achieve between enforcement and leniency, ensuring that while cannabis possession remains an offence, minor infractions are dealt with in a way that is fair and proportional.

The discussion underscored the ongoing need for community engagement and legal clarity as Barbados navigates the complex terrain of cannabis regulation. (PR)