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COVID-19 remains PHEIC for Now, says WHO

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By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

February 6, 2023 – COVID-19 is still a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) but that may change in the near future according to the World Health Organization (WHO) which met on Friday to discuss the listing.  A PHEIC is the highest listing given to outbreaks of disease by the International body.  The decision was adopted at the most recent International Health Regulations Emergency Committee.

Director General Dr. Tedros GHEBREYESUS said he agreed with the committee’s assessment that the COVID-19 pandemic is probably at a transition point during a post-meeting briefing.

There were several concerns by the emergency committee which prompted them to keep the emergency listing including:

  • Insufficient vaccine uptake in low- and middle-income countries;
  • The uncertainty associated with emerging variants;
  • Pandemic fatigue and reduced public perception of risk led to drastically reduced use of public health and social measures.

The post-COVID effects on the body as well as the condition and the high risk of heart disease post-infection are also major concerns that the WHO says will likely have a serious negative ongoing impact.

The WHO is warning countries that they have to continue to take temporary measures to maintain COVID safety even as the disease becomes prevalent. Those measures include incorporating COVID-19 vaccines into regular primary care regimens; increasing uptake and ensuring long-term availability of medical countermeasures, as well as maintaining strong national response capacity and preparing for future events to avoid the occurrence of a panic-neglect cycle among other steps.

Caribbean News

Haiti Food Insecurity Rising

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

 

#Haiti#FoodInsecurity, March 25th, 2024 Half of Haiti’s population or nearly 5 million people are classified as food insecure for the period March to June 2024, a projected 50 percent increase up from 45 percent from August 2023 to February 2024. This is according to the Haitian Government in a March 23rd report, as informed by an update from an IPC1 analysis. The factors contributing to the continued decrease in food security, the report says, include the increase of the food basket by 22 percent as of February 2024 and the worsening Violence which disrupts food supply chains.

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Health

Dengue in Pregnant Women in Brazil Increased

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#Dengue#PregnantWomen#Brazil, March 22nd, 2024 – Dengue cases among pregnant women in Brazil have increased significantly in 2024, at 5,151 in the first six weeks, compared to 1,157 in the same period in 2023, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health. In response, a manual for prevention and specialized care for pregnant women with and at risk of dengue, was launched. These women are at risk of complications like stillbirth, growth restriction of the unborn child and maternal illness and death.This was revealed in a March 20 report from PAHO.

 

 

 

 

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Caribbean News

InterHealth Canada -Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital Celebrates Success in ‘The Diamond Challenge’

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(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – March 15th, 2024): InterHealth Canada -Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital proudly announce the completion of ‘The Diamond Challenge’, a virtual competition that showcased the innovative improvement initiatives of six dedicated healthcare professional teams.

This competition spotlighted the organization’s commitment to patient safety and organizational excellence through creative poster displays. These displays, slated for exhibition across the Hospital, represent ongoing programs, new endeavours and industry changes in clinical practice and quality improvement. Quality improvement is the systematic approach that is guided by data to improve the quality and safety of healthcare delivery.

For over a year, participating teams meticulously prepared for ‘The Diamond Challenge, ‘ culminating in presenting posters and oral pitches before a panel of external judges. The initiatives, implemented between 2021 and 2023, were selected based on their demonstrable impact on and improvement of the Hospital’s operating environment. The judging panel featured prominent healthcare experts, including Richard Wylde, Deputy Director for Improvement at Leeds and York NHS Foundation Trust, England; Dr. Ali Hojjati, Lead Advisor at Accreditation Canada; and Jaymi Chernoff, Director of Critical Care Network at Kelowna General Hospital, Canada.

“Continuously improving healthcare quality and safety is a key goal for healthcare systems, aiming to enhance efficiency, reduce expenses, and ensure excellent patient outcomes”, explained Isha Honore, Quality Risk and Patient Safety Manager. She added, “Improving healthcare quality is the responsibility of everyone, including staff and patients. Through this program, we successfully integrated a diverse team of professionals and patient advisors. Each person in the system offers valuable insights and vital contributions to maintaining quality and safety standards. The active participation and understanding of all team members ensure that quality improvement initiatives are effective, relevant, successful, and sustainable.”

Dr. Denise Braithwaite, Chief Executive Officer of InterHealth Canada- Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital, expressed her pride in the competition’s outcomes, saying, “The outstanding work presented by the Diamond Challenge teams serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication to enhancing patient care and safety demonstrated by our healthcare professionals. Their innovative initiatives exemplify our steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of excellence within our organization, driving us towards continued success in providing our community the highest standard of care.”

The top three initiatives concentrated on fostering a Culture of Safety, covering fall prevention, workplace violence, and infection control education projects.

As we celebrate the success of ‘The Diamond Challenge,’ we are dedicated to continuously refining our approach to healthcare quality and safety, leveraging the expertise of industry leaders to drive innovation and excellence.

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