Health
Caught Twice: A Covid-19 Survivor’s Story
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, January 28, 2022 – In late December of 2019, most of the world was cleaning up after Christmas, preparing to ring in the New Year. A few news stories trickled down from international media about a virus in Wuhan, China but it didn’t seem there was much to fear – yet.
Social Scientist, Merline Handfield-Ulysse was on her way to a small university seminar after traveling a bit over the holidays. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Merline’s lecturer started coughing first.
Then a few classmates picked up the bug, but it was winter in England the flu was common.
“To be fair, every winter I had that horrible winter flu so to me it wasn’t a big deal,” Merline says.
And then just days later, “It wasn’t a big deal except my chest was hurting to a level that I couldn’t explain. Sometimes the pain was so much that I felt my heart was going to stop. I kept coughing until one day I coughed blood,” Merline recalled.
The symptom was concerning enough to prompt Merline to book an appointment with her doctor. And months before the pandemic was declared, before contact tracing and social distancing, before many medical doctors were even acquainted with the new virus, Merline was told that she needed a chest x-ray.
“At that point, I couldn’t talk, they told me I had Pharyngitis (a symptom of an extremely sore throat) and a bit of fluid in my lungs.”
This was only about a week into January 2020 and Merline said she returned to university but other people she knew were not so lucky.
“At that time I don’t think we had test and trace in place yet because we were at the beginning stage of the pandemic… some of my mates were hospitalized with that cold and they said it was pneumonia. Myself I said I had Pharyngitis, I didn’t know it was COVID until later on.”
She would find out months later in March, when the pandemic was finally declared.
Persons who had recorded cases of having that ‘bad flu’ were called in, including Merline who tested positive for SarsCoV2 or coronavirus antibodies.
When Merline spoke to Magnetic Media about her eventful introduction to the coronavirus on Wednesday, January 19th nearly two years after that first incident she said she was doing great, only waiting for her sense of taste to come back fully. The missing sense was the only holdover of not the first, but Merline’s second harrowing COVID-19 infection.
Merline was fully vaccinated when she contracted the virus again and explained that she took every precaution to avoid reliving her first Covid-19 experience.
“I wore my mask everywhere, I had hand sanitizer, spray, gel, cream, you name it, in my bag, in my jacket in my pocket. When I went out I came back and took my clothes off and shoved everything into the washing machine.”
Despite her best efforts, Merline found herself falling ill again in December 2021.
The second bout of sickness, she said, was much worse.
It started with an excruciating headache that grew progressively worse, and then came a strange symptom.
“I felt like I had a fever and I was freezing at the same time,” Merline said.
Merline who established the empowerment program, YELAH, migrated from the Caribbean. Originally from Haiti, she has spent years in the Turks and Caicos Islanders, where she raised two stand-out students who both continue to soar academically and professionally.
They are a close-knit family, but with everyone separated as each were happily devoted to their own pursuits, no one was there when Merline experienced the extreme dizziness, toothaches, and fatigue… all in the span of three days.
After that, she was unable to leave her bedroom for four days and lost her sense of taste and smell. For that entire week, she was unable to eat, only occasionally drinking water and juice.
She was remotely tested for the virus and the test confirmed what she already suspected, a breakthrough infection of Covid-19.
Though Merline is on the way to recovery, by the sound of her voice recounting the experience it was clear that the ordeal had been severe.
But she is strong, not unfamiliar with adversity and overcoming them with incredible poise and an ever deepening perspective.
A devoted mother to her own children and others, an advocate striving for equity and opportunity of black and Caribbean people transitioning to the UK and a life-long learner who has evolved as a sought after speaker and leader in the African Diaspora, Merline refers to her emergence from the early case as a “miracle.”
She is today, every day giving thanks that she has survived the disease which so many have fallen victim to, able to share her Covid story with those who know, love and pray for her at home and abroad.
Health
Successful Community Kidney Screening Events Hosted by InterHealth Canada – TCI Hospital and Ministry of Health and Human Services in Grand Turk and Salt Cay
(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, April 19th, 2024): – InterHealth Canada Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Human Services, is delighted to announce the successful completion of the Community Kidney Screening Events held in Grand Turk and Salt Cay. These events marked a significant milestone in promoting kidney health awareness and early detection.
On April 12, 2024, on Grand Turk (Dillon Hall) and April 13, 2024, on Salt Cay (Ministry of Health Clinic), participants had the opportunity to receive immediate screening results and personalized guidance from dedicated healthcare professionals. The collaborative effort between InterHealth Canada-Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Human Services empowered individuals to prioritize their kidney health and take proactive steps towards well-being.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Dr Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, CEO of InterHealth Canada Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital, shared, “We are happy to see the positive impact of the Community Kidney Screening Events in Grand Turk and Salt Cay. By providing accessible screenings and expert guidance by our clinical teams, including our nephrologist and internist, we equip individuals with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their kidney health.”
Similarly, Dr Camelia Clarke, Director of the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, expressed her satisfaction with the outcomes, stating, “These events have showcased the importance of early detection and preventive care in maintaining optimal kidney health.”
The support of sponsors, including the TCI Boating Club, Air and Sea Agency, The Olympic Group Limited, Flow and Digicel, played a crucial role in the success of the Community Kidney Screening Events.
InterHealth-Canada Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Human Services are excited to announce that a series of Kidney Community Screenings with dates for Providenciales, North and Middle Caicos, and South Caicos will be revealed soon, further extending the impact of this important initiative.
The Community Kidney Screening Events in Grand Turk and Salt Cay have set a solid foundation for ongoing efforts to prioritize kidney health and well-being within the community. Together, we are taking proactive steps towards building a healthier future for all.
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI, APRIL 30, 2024: Provo Water Company (PWC) has made significant progress in addressing recent water supply issues caused by increased water demand on Providenciales, and while ongoing projects aimed at long-term solutions are proceeding as planned, nightly water restrictions will continue through May.
This news comes as an update on the organization’s swift response to the rising water demand, which prompted the initial implementation of nightly restrictions to safeguard daily water reserves. The company is actively pursuing multiple projects, including upgrades to the city water transmission main, the main city water line valves, and the Middle Booster Pump Station,
alongside various other initiatives, to ensure long-term solutions to the supply issues.
Provo Water Company reaffirms its dedication to the residents of Turks and Caicos by continuing with a range of improvement projects aimed at innovative solutions for short and long-term distribution challenges. While diligently advancing these initiatives, the organization has determined that the nightly water restrictions remain necessary to ensure the replenishment of
daily reserves as it strives to keep these projects on track.
These restrictions will be implemented on an as-needed basis to effectively manage water consumption efficiently. If deemed necessary, the restrictions will be in effect from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., optimizing conservation efforts during off-peak hours.
In response to the extension, Managing Director Robert Hall expressed apologies to customers and stakeholders in light of the extension. He reiterates his organization’s dedicated efforts to minimize the frequency of water restrictions and their eventual elimination in response to the extension.
In a statement, Hall said, “We will implement these measures only as required throughout the month of May to efficiently regulate water usage. We recognize the impact of these restrictions, and we want to assure you that we are doing our utmost to minimize inconvenience and ensure that your needs are our top priority.”
The transmission main project, which will enhance various aspects of the existing water supply network, ultimately improving water distribution across the island, is currently scheduled to be completed by mid-June 2024.
Hall concluded, “This project is pivotal in strengthening our water distribution infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring a reliable water supply for our community. By actively working towards its completion, we remain dedicated to serving our customers with the utmost excellence, reliability, and efficiency.”
Learn more about Provo Water Company’s water efficiency and conservation initiatives by visiting www.provowater.com. Follow on social media for tips and announcements: @ProvoWaterCompany on Facebook and @provowaterco on Instagram. For inquiries, please contact the customer service team at customerservice@provowater.com.
-
Crime3 days agoUnlocking Perspectives: Serious Tourist Incidents unveiled in TCI
-
TCI News3 days agoRegional SDGs Update; 22% to be reached by 2030
-
Caribbean News2 days agoVISITOR ARRIVALS NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY TRAVEL ADVISORIES KINGSTON, May 1 (JIS):
-
Bahamas News2 days agoRBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos
-
Bahamas News1 week agoPacesetting Cohort of Eleuthera Residents Graduate from Leading Light Programme
-
Bahamas News3 days agoCIBC Caribbean announces the closure of Bay Street Branch
-
Bahamas News1 week agoNassau Cruise Port Donates Nearly $2 Million Towards Food Security
-
Bahamas News2 days agoBahamas economic growth