Bahamas News
Bush Medicine getting a Desk in Bahamas Ministry of Health
By Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, April 13, 2023 – Dr. Micheal Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness announced at the House of Assembly on March 22, 2023, that his ministry will establish a Bush Medicines desk under the new Wellness Unit which was launched on Thursday March 23, 2023. This announcement follows the reveal of results from the 2019 STEPS Survey of nearly 2,500 people, ages 18-69.
The survey says more that 10 percent of people with hypertension, diabetes, or both, at a point following their diagnosis, looked for advice from traditional healers with as much as 20 percent ingesting herbal or alternative treatment. 
Due to this, Darville’s Ministry, aims to “revisit plans to establish an indigenous medicines desk to ensure that the use of bush medicines and other treatments are regulated and introduced in a safe and proven manner.”
The survey was executed between January and April of 2019 and comprised of three steps.
Step one collected demographic and behavioral information, step two: physical measurements like blood pressure readings, weight, height, and waist and hip circumference and step three captured biochemical measurements such as fasting blood glucose, total blood cholesterol reading, urinary sodium and creatine levels.
Before recognizing the percentage of people who include bush medicine as part of their good health routine, the survey results were announced by the Minister. The results, though dating back to 2019, were hair-raising.
“The findings were startling and highlighted individual risk, major gaps in our public healthcare system which has failed to adequately address health inequities,” said Darville in his presentation.
This comment set up the need for the Health and Wellness Unit and the need to embrace native customs like bush medicines, which many Bahamians prefer to over the country or prescribed medications.
The survey revealed that 23.3 percent of respondents have hypertension, 60 percent of which were taking medications as professionally prescribed and seven percent who never had their blood pressure measured. Also, about 40 percent of the participants who were “non-compliant” with medication had elevated high blood pressure readings at the time of the survey and nearly 9 percent of persons with elevated blood pressure readings expressed that they didn’t having a diagnosis of hypertension.
For Diabetes, 12.8 percent of the respondents reported diabetic and about 22.7 percent of respondents said they had never had their blood sugar levels measured.
The percentage of diagnosed respondents taking their medication was less than 45 percent. Additionally, the survey highlighted that nearly 12 percent diabetic participants with diabetes had elevated fasting blood sugar readings at the time of the survey; and almost six percent with high blood sugar readings “denied having a diagnosis of diabetes.”
Regarding weight, 23.8 percent had normal weight according to the body-mass Index. The percentage classified as overweight was 25.4, and 43.4 as obese with a body-mass-index of 40 or more. This indicated that 70 percent of participants were either overweight or obese. Three in ten people failed to meet the global recommendations for sufficient movement generally. 
Approximately half of the participants consumed a minimum of three to seven alcoholic drinks weekly, 30 days to the survey. However, 30 percent were reported as ‘lifetime abstainers,’ which is relatively good news.
Of the respondents, 17.6 percent consumed six or more drinks and in once instance the 30 days to the survey.
“However, Madam Speaker, All is not lost. The Ministry of Health & Wellness will lead a comprehensive, evidence-based, varied, and multi-pronged response to the findings of this survey, as we work with communities across the country, at correcting these serious health challenges facing the nation brought on by diseases directly linked to lifestyles.
My Ministry will implement many modern treatment and management guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease starting at the primary healthcare setting. We will continue to strengthen health system infrastructure across the country with specific focus on the implementation of new digital platforms and monitoring Apps aimed at meeting the healthcare needs of our patients wherever they are,” conveyed the Minister one day before he helped to open the new Health & Wellness Unit.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.
The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap
from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.
With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.
Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.
Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.
Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!
After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.
The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before
their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.
At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.
Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.
Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.
The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed
their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.
As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole,
with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’. Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.
Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.
Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the
listening booth.
Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.
For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification
attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.
Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.
The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members. Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.
Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine. To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking
in the comfort of the chic lounge. In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.
The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.
Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.
To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.
