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Cleveland Clinic Florida teams up with Kingdor Parkinson Foundation and local neurologist to talk about Parkinson’s disease

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2 years ago

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Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, MD, Neurologist, Cleveland Clinic, Florida

July 12, 2022 – To help raise awareness in The Bahamas about Parkinson’s disease, a leading neurologist from Cleveland Clinic, Florida, Dr Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, recently teamed up with the Kingdor Parkinson Foundation and local neurologist, Dr Edwin Demeritte, in a Zoom interview to talk about life with the disease.

With hundreds of Bahamians suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Nestor Galvez-Jimenez,  said one of the best therapies for the disease that has no cure is exercise.

Describing it as a “condition of the aging brain”, Galvez-Jimenez said Parkinson’s is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that typically impacts people over the age of 50.

While there are treatments on the market to help manage the symptoms — tremors, stiffness, slower movement, among others — Galvez-Jimenez said his best patients are those who exercise regularly.

“I can tell you that I have patients with Parkinson’s disease who are in their 90s and they still go on the treadmill, they walk,” he said.

“And I have to tell you, of the exercises, the ones that have shown to be helpful is Tai Chi for balance, biking, either stationary or non-stationary, has been shown to be helpful, and boxing has also shown to be helpful.”

Galvez-Jimenez said all those exercises keep participants moving, but noted that Tai Chi, tennis and boxing are particularly good for balance and reflexes.

Mavis Darling-Hill, President, Kingdor Parkinson Foundation

“So, you know, I just tell patients you need to keep active,” he said. “And whatever you do is better than nothing, because the normal tendency for someone with Parkinson’s is to just slow down and become a couch potato. Read books as well, cognitively speaking, and keep social.”

Parkinson’s is believed to impact far more Bahamians than those who seek professional help, according to Parkinson’s Foundation President Mavis Darling-Hill, who described it as a “closeted disease.”

“We imagine, looking at our population of older persons over 60 years old, there could be a couple of thousand [cases] here, because…the signs and symptoms are very difficult in the early stage, a lot of persons will try to hide the disease,” she said.

“And only when it gets to the point where they cannot hide it enough, they’d come forward or admit to it.”

Dr. Edwin Demeritte, one of just three neurologists in The Bahamas and the only Paediatric Neurologist, said the lack of uniform medical record keeping also complicates the issue.

“When we look at our record keeping systems, we’re not uniform with electronic medical records,” he said.

Dr. Edwin Demeritte, Neurologist, Bahamas Neurological Center

“So, again, one of the issues is using paper records instead of electronic medical records in coming up with the exact numbers. So, at this point in time, we probably may have maybe somewhere between 500 and 1000 people who have come forth, but a lot of those persons are not captured in our system because there’s no uniform medical record keeping.”

However, Demeritte noted that work is underway to correct the matter.

As it relates to the issue of social stigmatization, Galvez-Jimenez said better education on Parkinson’s is important.

“I can clearly understand what was said about having some sort of social stigma about some of these things because, you know, we need to educate our patients and the population,” he said.

“You know, there’s nothing wrong with Parkinson’s. It’s another condition that affects the brain. And one thing that I try to tell them is if somebody has diabetes or has high blood pressure, usually you don’t think about it. You just say I’m going to take my medication for high blood pressure or take my medication for my diabetes.

“Well, we have to start thinking about Parkinson’s disease and all the Parkinsonian syndromes the same way. You know, we have treatment options… but the idea is to make people comfortable enough to open up and speak about it.

“So, education is important.”

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Education

DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS SERVICES OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HOSTS THERAPY ABROAD TEAM

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7 days ago

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July 19, 2024

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#TurksandCaicos, July 19, 2024 – The Department of Special Education Needs Services recently hosted a team from Therapy Abroad, comprising two speech and language therapists and their graduate students from Hampton University in Virginia, U.S.A.  The visit, filled with impactful activities and cultural exchanges, underscores the department’s commitment to enhancing educational services for children in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During their stay, the Therapy Abroad team had the opportunity to engage with key educational stakeholders. They had a courtesy call with the Minister of Education, Hon. Rachel Taylor, and the Permanent Secretary, Cherylann Jones, discussing collaborative efforts and sharing expertise. Their itinerary also included a visit to Thelma Lightbourne Primary School, where they met with teachers to discuss best practices in Speech and Language Therapy. The Hon. Minister of Education praised the initiative, stating, “This collaboration with Therapy Abroad is a testament to our commitment to providing our children with the best possible educational support. The knowledge and expertise shared during this visit are invaluable to our ongoing efforts.”

A highlight of the visit was the 4-day Speech Camp hosted at the Salvation Army in Providenciales. This camp provided invaluable speech assessments and therapy sessions for children, offered them tailored support and interventions. The team’s dedication to service was matched by their enthusiasm for cultural immersion; they participated in local activities such as the island’s renowned Fish Fry and enjoyed a boat tour, enriching their understanding of the local culture.

The Director of Special Education Needs Services, Dr. Anya Malcolm, commenting on the visit shared, “Welcoming the Therapy Abroad team has been a wonderful experience. Their work has not only benefited our children but also strengthened our community’s approach to Special Education.” The Coordinator of Assessments, Mrs. Lashaunda Skippings, who oversaw and accompanied the team throughout their visit, shared, “Ensuring the smooth execution of this visit was a priority for us. The team’s dedication and the positive impact they’ve had on our children’s lives is truly commendable.”

Looking forward, the Department of Special Education Needs Services aims to host more specialized camps and assessments across various islands and provide ongoing training for teachers. These initiatives will further our mission to offer comprehensive support and services to our neurodiverse children, ensuring they receive the quality education they deserve.

This visit marks a significant step towards bridging global expertise with local educational needs, demonstrating the power of collaboration in achieving excellence in special education services. For more information, you can contact the department via email om sens@gov.tc, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates on our programs and initiatives.

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PRECIOUS TREASURES SCHOOL TO REPRESENT THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AT THE REGIONAL FINALS OF NATIONAL TOURISM DEBATE COMPETITION

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2 weeks ago

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July 9, 2024

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Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands 9th July 2024 – The eagerly anticipated Regional Finals of the National Tourism Debate Competition will take place virtually with national champions, Precious Treasures School representing the Turks and Caicos Islands on 12 July, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The Turks and Caicos Islands team comprises of Team Captain, Ms. Ade Cushnie, Ms.  Kiarah McLean and Mr. Theo Silva, accompanied by their coach Ms. Maurissa Horne. The event will be broadcast live from via the Ministry of Tourism Facebook page from a closed set at the Atrium, Providenciale

The Regional Finals will showcase a captivating debate between Elmore Stoutt High School, British Virgin Islands and representing the government and Precious Treasures School taking the opposition stance. The teams will engage in a thought-provoking debate on the topic, “This house believes increasingly devastating superstorms and earthquakes make our number one tourism industry risky business for the Caribbean,” 

The National Tourism Debate Competition has been a collaborative effort led by the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services along with the Ministry of Tourism, with sponsorship from key partner, Experience Turks and Caicos and steadfast support the Edward C. Gartland Youth Center, the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association and the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College. The competition aims to foster critical thinking, public speaking skills, and a deeper understanding of the pivotal role of the tourism industry, regionally among the youth.

The Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Culture and Heritage, Agriculture and Religious Affairs, expressed her delight in the Turks and Caicos Islands returning to the Regional Finals, stating, “The National Tourism Debate Competition provides a unique opportunity for our youth to explore and analyze critical issues affecting our tourism industry. I am eager to witness Precious Treasures School put forth a creative argument are for Risk Mitigation and wish them all the best.”

The Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services, also shared her excitement, saying, “Our students’ commitment to ingenuity will be showcased as Precious Treasures School represents the country at this premier youth tourism debate.  I commend the dedication of the parents and coaches, who lend to this effort and wish TEAM TCI all the best of luck as they prepare to bring home the trophy.”

The public is cordially invited to follow the debate via the Ministry of Tourism’s social media platforms, including Facebook, to witness the intellectual prowess and engaging discourse showcased by the talented young debaters.

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Four Chevening Scholarships awarded to Turks and Caicos Islands Scholars for 2024-2025

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3 weeks ago

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July 5, 2024

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Thadine Crossman

The Governor’s Office is pleased to announce that four Scholars from the Turks and Caicos Islands have been awarded Chevening Scholarships to pursue their master’s degrees in the UK for the academic year 2024-2025:

  • Thadine Crossman MSc Occupational Safety, Health and Environment
  • Dodly Prosper MSc Biodiversity and Conservation
  • Royshana Robinson MSc Forensic Toxicology
  • Ashley Williams MSc Project Management

This is the first time the Turks and Caicos Islands will have four Chevening Scholars within the same academic year. It is also commendable to note that Scholar Royshana Robinson is the top-ranking scholar from across the Overseas Territories.

Dodly Prosper

Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, said, “It is with immense pride that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our four outstanding Scholars on being awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship. With dynamic skills and experiences across environmental protection, forensic science, public health, project delivery and leadership, they are a demonstration of our youth’s passion, vision and commitment to strengthening the future of these Islands. I hope their success as Chevening Scholars inspires others to achieve their full potential and contribute to the collective progress of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Royshana Robinson

Chevening Scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders from all backgrounds and areas of study who can demonstrate that they have the commitment and skills to create positive change in their country. The scholarship offers full financial support for scholars to study for any eligible master’s degree at over 150 UK universities whilst also gaining access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional and cultural experiences.

The Chevening Awards Scheme is the UK Government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scheme offers scholarship awards to outstanding emerging leaders around the world to study for a master’s degree in the UK. Visit chevening.org/scholarships for detailed information on the eligibility criteria and scholarship specifications.

Ashley Williams

For those interested in becoming a Chevening Scholar, the application cycle for study in the next academic year, 2025-2026, opens on 06 August 2024. Visit www.chevening.org to learn more. #BeChevening

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