CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The St. Lucia government says it will undertake a fact-finding nationwide survey that will serve as a digital data collection tool imperative ahead of the imminent launch of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) project.

“The prevalence of dementia in persons [in Jamaica] who are 60 and older is somewhere around 9%, and that is likely an underestimate. What that works out to be is that approximately 45,000 persons 60 and older are probably living with some type of dementia, but these figures are from 2018, and that's before COVID”, explained Dr. Ishtar Govia, research and Clinical Psychologist and Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology at the Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR), UWI Mona in Jamaica.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The National Public Health Laboratory has commenced preparing samples to be sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for PCR testing to detect the presence of the potentially serious Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) within the population.

UNITED NATIONS – The Haitian government has joined the United Nations and other humanitarian partners in launching a US$145.6 million appeal to support its country’s emergency cholera response.

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt – Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motley Tuesday announced a new initiative involving the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa to develop and manufacture pharmaceuticals for global public health.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Health and Wellness is awaiting a report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on the discovery of a cluster of Klebsiella pneumoniae infections at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) which resulted in the deaths of 11 babies between July and September this year.

WASHINGTON, DC – A new report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says the number of people with diabetes in the Americas, including the Caribbean, has more than tripled in three decades. 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Ministry of Health is seeking to reduce the mortality rate and the number of cases of malaria in Guyana by 2025, in keeping with the 2030 target of the World Health Organization (WHO).

BROOKLYN, NY – Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Met Council today announced their pilot of “Born in Brooklyn” baby boxes, which contain free baby supplies and post-partum resources for new parents. Made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President to Met Council, America’s largest Jewish charity, a total of 500 post-partum families receiving care at select Brooklyn hospitals and clinics will receive “Born in Brooklyn” baby boxes. The baby boxes will come as diaper bags containing baby-friendly supplies carefully selected by the Borough President’s Maternal Health Taskforce, such as diapers, perineal spray, baby wipes, nursing pads, nipple cream, diaper changing mats, post-partum pads, burping cloths, swaddles, and City’s First Readers books. A resource one-pager will accompany the boxes, with links to helpful guides for first-time parents and city-wide services.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – A four-day mental health and well-being conference will bring leading mental health experts to Guyana, to tackle mental health challenges here.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Government is moving ahead with the construction of seven new hospitals to deliver quality health service to Guyanese in all regions, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony has disclosed.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Health and Wellness on Sunday announced that effective immediately parents of children aged 12 and younger can access free medical care at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).