Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Westmoreland residents urged to take precaution against Leptospirosis
Montego Bay, October 11, 2019 – Jamaica – The Westmoreland Health Department has beefed up its public education campaign to sensitise the public about the dangers of leptospirosis.
Health Promotion and Education Officer, Gerald Miller, told JIS News that while there is no outbreak of the disease in the parish, the department has to be proactive in light of the recent heavy rains. As such, he is cautioning persons against wading in flood waters that might have been contaminated with animal urine.
“We have been having some heavy downpours and I have seen persons wading in waters in Savanna-la-Mar and its environs. We just want to remind persons that by wading in contaminated water, the germs [from animal urine] can penetrate your skin,” he noted.
He said that parents should also ensure that children do not play in puddles when it rains.
Mr. Miller said that sugar cane workers and persons who live near sugar cane fields should take particular care.
“They are at a greater risk… . Rats tend to traverse cane fields and persons might come into contact with contaminated cane. As a result, they might end up getting the germs in their system,” he noted. “We have been told by residents that in the cane harvesting time, the rats tend to migrate from the cane fields and move towards their drainage,” he added.
He said that individuals who work with or handle animals are also at risk.
Mr. Miller told JIS News that the health department has been utilising its weekly health programme, aired every Wednesday on a local radio station, to impart information about the dangers of leptospirosis.
“To build awareness, from time to time, we interview the Veterinary Public Health Inspector to share her perspective on leptospirosis and to give persons some tips as to what they ought to do.
“Additionally, we also use our food handlers’ clinic, as well as our regular clinics in our (health) facilities, to talk about [leptospirosis] and, from time to time, we go to our hospital in the outpatient area and engage persons,” he informed.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by the leptospira bacteria that could lead to possible fatal infection of the kidney, liver, brain, lung or heart. While it cannot be spread from human to human, it can be contracted through exposure to the urine or body fluids of infected animals.
Contact: Nichieta Sterling
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Gerald Miller: Health Promotion and Education Officer at the Westmoreland Health Department, Gerald Miller.
JIS File Photo
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The FCCA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), has launched an annual scholarship in honor of former Prime Minister of Barbados, The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who played a significant role in advancing the cruise trade association’s vision.
The annual gift of US$25,000 will be awarded to a different Caribbean destination each year to support the work of either an educational institution or a nonprofit organization chosen by the destination.
Barbados will receive the inaugural Owen Arthur scholarship, and next year’s scholarship destination winner will be announced at the ‘Shining Stars FCCA Foundation Dinner’ during Seatrade Cruise Global 2025.
“I am honored that the Foundation can continue the legacy of The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who truly inspired my career and empowered so many throughout the Caribbean, as well as making it possible to have the current partnership between the cruise industry and the Caribbean,” said Michele Paige, CEO, FCCA. “Hopefully this scholarship can live up to his memory by providing a platform for future generations in the region.”
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The historic UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States (SIDS) brought global attention to the significant challenges faced by small islands, underscoring that their concerns were big issues for all.
On April 26, several key figures who contributed to the 1994 Barbados meeting gathered in Bridgetown to commemorate its 30th
anniversary. The outcome of the 1994 meeting was the Barbados Program of Action, which delineated how the world community should address the unique vulnerabilities of islands, particularly in response to climate change.
Despite initial reluctance from powerful UN members to hold more than one SIDS conference, subsequent gatherings in Mauritius and Samoa and a fourth global conference scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024 are a testament to some of the successes of the SIDS process.
In Antigua and Barbuda, the international community will convene to review the sustainable development progress of SIDS and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to accelerate their journey toward resilient prosperity.
The Barbados meeting last month provided a reflective journey for many, as attendees, including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, paid tribute to the late Ambassador Miles Stoby of Guyana, the visionary behind the initiative and for whom Barbados was, fittingly, a second
Caption: Ambassador Lyutha al Mughairy (widow of Ambassador Miles Stoby) greets Garth Sandiford, son of late Barbados Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford. Looking on are Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and former UN Under-Secretary General Peter Hansen.
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC), held April 22-24 at Radisson Grenada Beach Resort was a resounding success.
The conference is the Caribbean’s foremost event for high-level networking and dialogue on sustainable tourism, providing a crucial platform for tourism policymakers, private sector stakeholders, thought leaders, and strategic partners to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Caribbean tourism.
The meeting highlighted the essential pillars necessary for creating a transformative and regenerative legacy under the theme “The 5 Ps for a Legacy of Caribbean Tourism Sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose & Partnership”.
Thought-provoking addresses from Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, set the stage for discussions about the future of Caribbean tourism.
PM Mitchell stressed the need to include a broader array of stakeholders in the tourism conversation, while Stewart highlighted the importance of partnerships and unity within the sector. The conference was marked by authentic displays of Grenadian culture and dynamic panel sessions.
Caption: Adam Stewart of Sandals Resorts International delivered the keynote address.
The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
-
TCI News4 days agoBomb Threat No 6. In TEN days
-
Health1 day agoAstraZeneca withdraws COVID vaccines after millions took their jabs
-
Crime1 week agoUnlocking Perspectives: Serious Tourist Incidents unveiled in TCI
-
TCI News1 week agoRegional SDGs Update; 22% to be reached by 2030
-
Bahamas News6 days agoRBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos
-
Caribbean News6 days agoVISITOR ARRIVALS NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY TRAVEL ADVISORIES KINGSTON, May 1 (JIS):
-
Bahamas News1 week agoCIBC Caribbean announces the closure of Bay Street Branch
-
Bahamas News6 days agoBahamas economic growth