Health

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Today May 31st is World No Tobacco Day and the global community once again turns its attention to the pervasive threat posed by tobacco and the imperative to shield our children from its harmful influence. This year’s theme, “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference,” resonates deeply with the urgent need to fortify our defenses against the insidious tactics employed by the tobacco industry to lure in new, young consumers.

The statistics are stark: despite decades of anti-smoking campaigns and awareness efforts, tobacco remains a leading cause of preventable death worldwide, claiming millions of lives each year. What’s even more alarming is the relentless targeting of children and adolescents by tobacco companies, who view them as replacement smokers to sustain their profits.

From clever marketing strategies that glamorize smoking to the strategic placement of tobacco products near schools and playgrounds, the tobacco industry stops at nothing to entice the next generation into a lifetime of addiction and health risks. The result? A staggering number of young lives trapped in the grip of nicotine dependence, facing a future plagued by respiratory ailments, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

However, amidst this bleak landscape, there is hope. Governments, health organizations, and advocates around the world are increasingly rallying together to push back against tobacco industry interference and safeguard the well-being of our youth.

The NCSA believes that comprehensive tobacco control measures must be enforced. This includes regulations on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, particularly those targeting young people. By restricting the industry’s ability to market its products to children, we can disrupt the cycle of addiction before it takes hold.

We also believe that education is important since it plays a pivotal role in empowering young people to make informed choices about their health. By integrating tobacco prevention curricula into school programs and raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, we can equip children with the knowledge and skills they need to resist the pressures of experimentation.

As we observe World No Tobacco Day this year, let us recommit ourselves to the cause of protecting our children from the predatory practices of the tobacco industry. Let us stand united in our resolve to create a world where every child can grow up free from the shackles of addiction and enjoy a healthy, smoke-free future.

Together, we have the power to break the cycle of tobacco addiction and build a brighter tomorrow for generations to come. The time to act is now. (PR)

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.