health

March 14, 2018
1,084

CARICOM to get German support for Marine Protection

Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Germany’s new Ambassador to (CARICOM) His Excellency Holger Michael signed an agreement totalling 25,700,000 euros on Monday for a Sustainable Financing Mechanism for Marine Protection in the Region. Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Ambassador Holger Michael signed Financing Agreement Ambassador LaRocque had minutes earlier at the Secretariat’s Georgetown, Guyana headquarters received…
Read More »
February 26, 2018
1,390

Be proactive, reduce your risk of catching the flu – CARPHA

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. February 2018. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging persons to practice good personal hygiene in order to reduce the risk of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses. Influenza (flu), a contagious respiratory illness which affects thousands of people in the Caribbean each year. Typically, the Flu season in the Region occurs between…
Read More »
February 7, 2018
1,364

CARPHA launches regional system for Member States to report sub-standard falsified medicines

The health of the Caribbean people can be at risk if medicines are not safe, effective and of good quality. Medicines safety and monitoring systems are often limited in the Region, and there has been a call for regional pooling of resources, sharing of information, and coordination of activities, that can lead to stronger systems. Recently, the Caribbean Regulatory System…
Read More »
December 15, 2017
1,472

Cannabidiol is ‘not likely to be abused,’ WHO says

(CNN)Two separate substances, two separate approaches: The World Health Organization endorsed a gentle view of cannabidiol this week while issuing its sternest warning yet against synthetic opioid carfentanil. Cannabidiol, a naturally occurring chemical found in marijuana plants, is “not likely to be abused or create dependence,” an initial review by the WHO's Expert Committee on Drug Dependence found. The organization decided that international prohibitions…
Read More »
November 16, 2017
1,238

Obesity, physical inactivity put women at excess risk of diabetes

Diabetes, a major contributor to premature death, is estimated to affect 10-15% of the adult population in the Caribbean Region. The disease is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack and stroke and responsible for high rates of complications, such as lower limb amputation. The risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes are obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI)…
Read More »
November 3, 2017
1,235

Regional Commission on Marijuana holds national consultations in Guyana

Guyana will host consultations surrounding the use of marijuana on 6 November 2017; as part of the Caribbean Community’s call for” careful in-depth research” to inform decision-making on the issue. The Regional Commission on Marijuana, established by CARICOM Heads of Government, will hold a number of focus groups with Youth, Faith-based organizations and special interests groups A Town Hall Meeting…
Read More »
September 21, 2017
1,501

CARPHA ready to assist Dominica

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), has deployed members of its staff, who have joined sister CARICOM institution, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), to carry out rapid needs assessment in Dominica. Dominica suffered widespread devastation to homes and infrastructure after Hurricane Maria, the second major storm to hit the Caribbean this month made landfall on the island on Monday. CARPHA’s team…
Read More »
September 20, 2017
1,105

SCLAN pledges its support for hurricane ravaged countries

SCLAN pledges its support for hurricane ravaged countries (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Chair of the Spouses of the Caribbean Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), H.E. Kim Simplis Barrow, Spouse of the Prime Minister of Belize and Special Envoy for Women and Children in Belize…
Read More »
August 30, 2017
1,137

Regional Network launched to collaborate on Zika, other vector borne diseases

[CariVecNet] Mosquito borne diseases continue to impact the Caribbean’s social, economic and health sectors. Recent outbreaks of Zika (2016), and Chikungunya (2014) and the continued circulation of Dengue, highlight the need for an integrated approach to the prevention and control of these vector borne diseases (VBDs), especially since many countries depend on tourism as a major source of revenue. The…
Read More »
August 11, 2017
1,483

Regional Nursing Body Meets in Guyana

Nurses from across the Caribbean Community are currently gathered at the CARICOM Secretariat for the Forty-Fourth General Meeting of the Regional Nursing Body. The meeting got underway on Tuesday with an opening ceremony and will continue until Friday August 11, 2017. Speaking at the opening, Director, Human Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Ms. Myrna Bernard, said the Human Resource Development…
Read More »