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BAHAMAS: Health Minister Notes Good Renovation Progress on Rand Memorial Hospital

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#Freport, GB, December 17, 2019 – Bahamas – Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Duane Sands during a tour of the Rand Memorial Hospital on Friday said work will be done through the Holiday Season to get the Rand Memorial Hospital back in working order.

Joining the minister on the tour of the hospital were Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, the Hon. Iram Lewis and Hospital Administrator Sharon Williams.

The tour gave the Health Minister a first-hand view of the renovation work presently being carried out at the Rand Memorial Hospital, which was hard-hit by Hurricane Dorian in September of this year. Severe flooding forced all of the wards in the hospital to be emptied.  Those patients were eventually housed in fully-equipped makeshift tents by Samaritan’s Purse.

Minister Sands said “I want to assure the public that we will not do anything that will in anyway compromise the safety of our people,” said Dr. Sands. “So there will be mold remediation to ensure that any bacteria contamination is sorted out, that the structure is safe; and it will be restored.

“In the area of the Operating Room, the Recovery Room, the Central Sterile Surgical Supply area, there is not a whole lot of work left to be done, but it is a part of the entire remediation project.”

Minister Sands noted that Samaritan’s Purse has agreed to stay on until March 2020. “So, we would like to have a number of the services return to the Rand Memorial Hospital at that time.  Realistically, we have to be out of those temporary facilities when hurricane season starts again.

A temporary operating and recovery room will be constructed in the area where the ambulances presently enter with emergency patients. The Health Minister is hoping that by as early as January, the Rand will be able to re-start elective surgeries.

He noted that the cost of the renovation of the Rand has been estimated to be around $20 million.  “As we look at the value of this remediation and renovation work, it’s in the millions of dollars. The Ministry of Health has agreed to have all of the donations for health audited, and we will present that audited report once it is completed.”

The Minister noted that “very soon” some of the services that are currently being carried out by Samaritan’s Purse will be moved and replanted into a renovated Rand Memorial Hospital.  “But in the meantime, let us not underestimate the value of the contributions by them and all of the organizations that have come forward in our time of need.”

Minister Sands noted that renovation work on the IAT building that was carried out since Hurricane Dorian has recently been completed, and it is expected that the Administrative teams, which have been in tents provided by Samaritan’s Purse, will move into the renovated building as early as this week.  Out-patients clinics will be resumed from the same building.

Asked about the possibility of constructing a new hospital, Minister Sands said that is something the entire government supports. He pointed out that the Prime Minister has already made it clear that a new hospital is in the works for Grand Bahama. 

“A new hospital has to be planned, it has to be conceptualized and we need to identify an appropriate site,” added Minister Sands.  Grand Bahamians deserve all of the services that can be provided in The Bahamas, that means cardiac care, cancer care and services that are not currently provided, so we have to conceptualize what that facility would look like. We also need to know what kind of design would need to be used.

“We have to make sure that as we plan for the era of climate change, that when we invest in the structure of Grand Bahama, that it is one that will serve the people of Grand Bahama, not just for this year, but for the next generation; so it has to be thought out, carefully planned and I don’t imagine that such a facility we would have the ground breaking for [in] less than two years.”

Minister Sands says that the renovation work on the Rand Memorial has made tremendous headway and tremendous progress.  All of it, he said, has been possible by the grace of Almighty God and with the help of so many committed and dedicated people to the project.  

By Andrew Coakley

Release: BIS

Photo Caption:

Header: Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Duane Sands (left), along with Minister of State for Grand Bahama Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Management and reconstruction, the Hon. Iram Lewis, and Rand Memorial Hospital Administrator, Sharon Williams view one of the operating rooms at the Rand Memorial Hospital, during a tour of the main building, December 13, 2019. 

Insert: Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Duane Sands points out some of the damage to beams in the male ward of the Rand Memorial Hospital to Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, the Hon. Iram Lewis, during a recent tour of the hospital, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Dorian in September of this year.  Renovation work on the hospital continues to progress.  

(BIS Photo)

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Bahamas News

Ayla Isaacs Unveils Transformative Guide Amidst Challenging Times

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Bahamian author Ayla Isaacs is making an impactful debut in the literary world with her book, “Achieving Optimum Spiritual Health—Transforming Your Wellbeing With Diet, Exercise, and Rest.” As crime rates surge and the aftermath of the pandemic leaving many grappling with hopelessness and a sense of abandonment, Isaacs’ guide offers a beacon of hope and a roadmap for personal transformation, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing spiritual resilience in navigating adversity.

Long-time Bahamian physician Dr. Horizal Simmons says, “Ms. Isaacs not only states the spiritual ingredient that we should use for our therapy, but she also explains how it works in our spiritual system and the beneficial changes that will bring the desired transformation or spiritual health benefits.” Applauding the soundness of the book and paralleling it to physical wellness, Dr. Simmons said he highly recommends it to anyone serious about their spiritual well-being and health.

Isaacs is a highly experienced Project Manager who draws from her background in Civil and Environmental Engineering, International Business, and Christian ministry, whether a physical structure or the wellbeing of an individual’s life. Her published work shows that she strongly believes in building with structural integrity. Isaacs provides readers with a holistic approach to welfare beyond traditional self-help. She explores the transformative power of simple spiritual practices integrated into daily life. Isaacs believes that prioritizing spiritual health can help individuals find inner fulfillment and a sense of purpose, which she believes are essential in combating the prevailing hopelessness.

Coach Gregory Cash, who has spent decades helping to develop great athletes and leaders in the country, believes the unique perspective shared, especially relating to spiritual exercise, can touch the hearts of so many. Wendy Fernander, PhD., a licensed clinical psychologist and president of the Bahamas Psychological Association, noted that too few of us think about our spiritual diet, which results in our spiritual wellbeing. When asked about the book, Dr. Fernander said, “This book will provoke you to do serious soul searching.”

Amid the challenges communities face, Isaacs encourages readers to initiate a positive “me” movement—a focus on self-improvement that, when embraced collectively, can lead to stronger families, churches, and nations. According to Isaacs, strengthened individuals become catalysts for positive change within their immediate circles, creating a ripple effect that extends to broader communities.

Ayla Isaacs, whose roots go back to South Eleuthera, is a founding member of the Smart and Strong Sisterhood (SASS) and the creative mind behind A.I. Paper, a gift-wrapping paper and bag company that celebrates the islands of The Bahamas. Isaacs believes that investing in spiritual wellbeing is pivotal for personal growth and resilience. A conference speaker who is actively involved in church ministries and affiliated with several civic organizations, Isaacs firmly believes in the balance between personal and community wellbeing.

“Achieving Optimum Spiritual Health” is now available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com in paperback and eBook form and locally at Oasis Bookstore in Nassau. Isaacs encourages readers to embark on a transformative journey and be architects of their spiritual wellbeing. In times of uncertainty, “Achieving Optimum Spiritual Health” offers a guide and a message of hope and empowerment for individuals seeking personal and communal transformation.

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Tired of Taking Notes? The new Samsung Galaxy S24 Will Transcribe and Summarize Your Voice Notes In A Snap! 

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NASSAU, Bahamas – Faster, smarter and more convenient than ever before, the new Samsung Galaxy S24 will revolutionize your productivity with its new Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist features. In the continuous pursuit of delivering innovative solutions that enhance productivity and user experience, Samsung Electronics is proud to introduce two groundbreaking features: Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist.

The Transcript Assist feature, powered by Galaxy’s advanced artificial intelligence, takes note-taking to a whole new level by enabling users to easily convert voice notes and conversations into useful and accessible notes. Whether in a business meeting, conference, or casual conversation, the Galaxy S24’s Transcript Assist makes capturing information easier than ever.

By utilizing Transcript Assist, users can effortlessly record any conversation with multiple speakers and transform it into a clear and concise transcript with just a few taps. This feature is particularly useful for those who need to keep a detailed record of discussions and decisions made during important meetings or collaborative work sessions.

“With Transcript Assist, we’re redefining the way people take notes and record information,” said Gianmarco Leri, Product Manager at Samsung Electronics. “No longer do you have to worry about missing important details during a conversation. With the Galaxy S24, you can capture every word and turn it into a useful reference that you can easily review and share.”

In addition to generating accurate transcripts, the Transcript Assist feature also offers the ability to generate quick summaries of conversations, as well as the option to translate the entire transcript into different languages, facilitating communication and collaboration among people from different regions and cultures.

On the other hand, the Browsing Assist feature allows users to navigate more efficiently and conveniently on their Galaxy S24 devices by providing intelligent and contextual suggestions during web browsing and online content exploration.

The Galaxy S24, equipped with Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist, marks the beginning of a new era of productivity and convenience in mobile devices. These innovative features demonstrate Samsung Electronics’ continued commitment to providing advanced tools that help people achieve their goals more effectively and efficiently in everyday life.

So, get ready! The new Samsung Galaxy S24 will be coming soon to tech stores in The Bahamas soon.

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Bahamas News

Weather Systems Affect Cuba and The Bahamas

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#Weather#Cuba#TheBahamas, March 25th, 2024 – Serious weather struck The Bahamas and Cuba over the weekend, both nations receiving warnings from their meteorological entities. The Bahamas was affected by severe thunderstorms.  In fact, an area of the Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship, which was 20 miles off Eleuthera, Bahamas, caught fire and reports say it was possibly due to a lightning strike.  Fortunately no lives were reported lost.

Meanwhile, Cuba had intense rainfall and hailstorms, resulting in damage to surrounding areas, thousands left without electricity amid fallen trees and Flash Floods.

 

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