Bahamas News

Nearly 200,000 Regional Children diagnosed with Diabetes, top in the world

Published

11 months ago

November 18, 2022

Deandrea Hamilton

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

November 18, 2022 – Of all the children in the Caribbean and North America at least 193,000 are diabetic according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and as World Diabetes Day which falls on November 14th every year is celebrated, access to diabetes education is the focus of the 2022 campaign.

The US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) says diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream.

The IDF says at least 537 million people globally have diabetes that means one in every 10 people. Based on the IDF Diabetes Atlas North America and the Caribbean has the second highest prevalence of Diabetes for all global regions at 14 per cent or 51 million people and that number is projected to increase by 24 per cent to 63 million by 2045.

It’s not just the large countries that are affected, Mexico, Jamaica, much of the Leeward Islands, Guyana and Suriname all have populations with a significant percentage of diabetics, over 10 percent in most cases. The countries with the most affected people are United States (32.2m); Mexico (14.1m); Canada (3m); Haiti (548,700) and Jamaica (231 000).

But the countries where diabetes is most prevalent even though they have smaller populations are Mexico; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Belize; Barbados; and Bermuda.

The statistics on children are also extreme with almost 200,000 minors affected.

Not only does the region have a significant level of diabetes in the population, we pay more than any other region in the world to treat the disease. The region spends 415 billion in diabetes expenses 43 per cent of the global total.

In order to lower this bill and keep populations healthier there are several things individuals can do. Unfortunately Type one diabetes is not preventable, it’s thought to be an auto immune response where the body attacks its own cells by accident.

Fortunately this type is less prevalent than Type Two diabetes which is preventable. In it your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels it develops over many years. A healthy diet, exercise and losing weight are the usual prescriptions in combating Type 2 diabetes.

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Deandrea Hamilton

Bahamas News

Grand Bahama to be CARGO HUB, as Bahamas & Qatar ink MOU

Published

5 days ago

September 29, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, September 29, 2023 – With moves to deepen ties, governments of The Bahamas and Qatar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to solidify agreements in principle surrounding the development of aviation and other related services.

This is according to Chester Cooper, The Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation in a Facebook post.

This comes after The Bahamas Government in a press release on September 24th, revealed that Cooper, was set to meet with the head of Qatar Airways to have talks regarding “multiple mutually beneficial aviation opportunities for both countries.”

The release also said the deputy prime minister and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation are working on “forging strategic partnerships with several Middle Eastern countries to strengthen ties to The Bahamas and the Caribbean,” and this new signing is indicative of such efforts.

Following the September 25th signing, on September 27th, Kenneth Romer, Deputy Director General of Tourism for The Bahamas informed via Facebook some details of the agreement saying, “we have now established a framework for cooperation and formed strategic partnerships with Qatar Airways, Qatar’s Transport, Aviation and Investment Agencies and The Qatar Aeronautical Academy, that will benefit our country.”

Regarding further efforts for the improvement of The Bahamas, Cooper announced on Facebook again on Tuesday September 26th that both countries are working to make Nassau a passenger hub for Latin America and the Caribbean adding that talks are being held for Grand Bahama as a cargo hub.

Additionally, as the press release informed, Cooper is preparing for an on ground visit of Bahamasair domestic operations by Qatar Airways Technical team sometime in October.

Bahamas News

CUBAN MIGRANTS DETAINED ALONG EXUMA CHAIN

Published

6 days ago

September 28, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Defence Headquarters 28 SEP ’23: HMBS P-45 under the command of Chief Petty Officer Acadia Smith detained a group of Cuban migrants in Cistern Cay, Exuma on September 27, 2023, due to information received from a Good Samaritan vessel in the area that handed them over to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Members of HMBS P-45 retrieved twenty-eight (28) Cuban nationals and transported them to HMBS Coral Harbour in New Providence. All individuals appeared to be in good health and will undergo further processing and assessment by Immigration officials.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in guarding our heritage and appreciates the sharing of information and intelligence provided by the boating community to affect migrants and other unlawful interdictions at sea.

(For additional information, contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our official website at www.rbdf.gov.bs. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and explore our engaging content on our YouTube channel).

RBDF

Bahamas News

CTO mourns the passing of former chairman Obediah Wilchcombe

Published

1 week ago

September 26, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

#BARBADOS (September 26, 2023) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) deeply mourns the loss of distinguished Bahamian leader and former chairman of the inter-regional body, Obediah Wilchcombe.

At the time of his passing, Mr. Wilchcombe was serving as Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas.

“We extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Minister Wilchcombe’s family, as well as the government and people of the Bahamas. He was a true champion for the people of the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region,” remarked Kenneth Bryan, CTO Chairman and Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.

Chairman Bryan recalled Minister Wilchcombe held the position of CTO Chairman twice (2002-2004 and 2016-2017) while serving as Minister of Tourism for the Bahamas, and contributed significantly to the advancement of sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean.

Chairman Bryan noted that the CTO plans to honor the life and legacy of “this eminent Bahamian leader” at the organization’s upcoming business meetings and the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Turks and Caicos next month.