Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Haiti, March 22, 2025 – The last thing Haiti needs is a resurgence of Cholera in the country, but it appears cases are rising and so is concern at the United Nations, whose team on the ground points to a need for water and sanitation supplies.

“Since the beginning of the year, more than 900 suspected cases and four confirmed cases have been recorded nationwide,” explained the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

“OCHA also warns that years of underfunding for the humanitarian response means that millions of Haitians are missing out on the essential support they need.”

Interventions and support have lost their grip on the situation which became a real problem in the aftermath of the infrastructure and human resources depleting earthquake of 2010.

The radical gang-led violence which has driven more than one million people from their homes and terrorized citizens and systems, is continuing to take a toll on the land. The UN says densely populated ‘Sun City’ is showing the highest spike.

“In Cité Soleil, more than 100 suspected cases have been reported in the past three weeks. The deteriorating security situation hinders access for surveillance teams and response efforts, raising concerns about undetected community transmission.”

The Government and the World Health Organization (WHO) are jointly responding to the outbreak by providing medicine and medical supplies and setting up rehydration and chlorination points, informed a March 20 report.

“Funding for water, sanitation and hygiene services is particularly low, with only $3.6 million out of the required $87 million received. Additionally, just less than 30 percent of health facilities with beds across the country – and just over 40 per cent in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area – are fully operational.”

The World Health Organization, WHO informs that Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease that can be fatal within hours if not treated. Quick access to treatment is crucial.  Adding that researchers estimate that there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths from cholera worldwide each year.

Photo by Lizaj Lakay News

Kingston, Jamaica, March 10, 2025 – The Government has significantly increased investments in healthcare and should another crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic hit the island, the country will be better equipped to deal with it, according to Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

Speaking at the unveiling of a monument in honour of healthcare workers who died while tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, today (March 10), at the National Chest Hospital in St. Andrew, the Prime Minister said out of a commitment to strengthen the healthcare system and to strengthen the healthcare workforce, the Government instituted the Dr. Barry Wint Memorial Scholarship in 2024.

“We are investing $2.5 billion to support 607 students pursuing studies in medical technology, nursing, biomedical engineering, and other critical health-related fields,” he said, adding that the fund is ensuring the building of a robust pipeline of professionals “dedicated to service in the health sector.

“This is a solid commitment of how the Government is dealing with building resilience in the system, supporting our professionals, and at the same time ensuring that we can deliver healthcare with care,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that while July has been earmarked to recognise the “selfless contribution of those who carried us through the crisis, more needs to be done”.

“Our appreciation cannot be confined to a single month or a single event. It must be reflected in how we value and support our healthcare professionals every single day. To the families of the fallen, I know that no words can fill the space left, especially for your loved ones,” Dr. Holness said.

The Prime Minister underscored that the legacies of the healthcare workers live on in the patients they treated, the lives they touched, and now in the monument that has been erected.

“Let us commit to a Jamaica where those who dedicate their lives to caring for others are themselves cared for. Let us also commit to upholding the values these healthcare workers have embodied – care, compassion, resilience and unity. In their action and sacrifice, they made a choice,” the Prime Minister said.

March 10 marks the fifth anniversary since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in the country, and the fourth year since the start of the recovery with the administration of vaccines.

Contact: Garfield L. Angus

Release: JIS

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Turks and Caicos, March 15, 2025 – The disease is Type 1 Achalasia; which blocks the esophagus and makes eating a difficult and painful experience.  It is so rare that each year only one case in every one hundred thousand people is detected.  It’s likely why a North Caicos family found themselves in a frightening guessing game when the disorder attacked the esophagus of their ten-year-old son; driving him to a scary state of malnutrition as his body rejected just about every meal he tried to eat.

“Post surgery, he has recovered well.  He is eating and back to his normal diet.  I just want to give thanks to the doctors, and the Almighty for giving them the wisdom to recognise what was the necessary procedure and for taking us through it safely.”

On the other side of this medical dilemma was a team skilled with correcting the problem; they are based in Colombia, at the International Hospital of Colombia.  Experience with the surgical procedure among the adult population had already prepared the doctors, which was easily able to transfer that expertise and attention to younger patients.

“Under the leadership of Dr. Juan Javier Acevedo, a specialist in Gastrointestinal Surgery and Digestive Endoscopy, and Dr. Carlos Augusto Cuadros, a specialist in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, the medical team conducted a high-resolution esophageal manometry, a test that evaluates pressure and coordination of esophageal movements. The results confirmed the diagnosis of type 1 achalasia, allowing them to determine the most appropriate treatment approach,” explained a statement from the hospital which is part of the pool of medical facilities in the TCI’s Treatment Abroad Program.

The TCI National Health Insurance Board manages the Treatment Abroad Program, TAP.

Tivon Wright was enjoying a typical existence as an outstanding achiever of the Charles Hubert James Primary School in Kew, North Caicos.

The fifth grader, who recently earned second place prize at the FortisTCI primary school Science Quiz, is a gold medal singer in the Music Festival of the Department of Culture and secured first place in the Department of Education’s Math Speed Quiz, was growing well and doing well when classic achalasia hijacked his health.

Today, he is beaming and eating and for everyone who participated in his return to a normal, happy existence, this is a relief and a miracle.

“It was very scary because before that, we did not know what was happening, just that he was not eating and losing weight and everybody was worried.

I want to thank the almighty God and I want to thank the medical personnel here in Turks and Caicos because the diagnosis started here.

Dr. Gomo Laidlow examined him and he realized that there was something wrong.  He (Tivon) would eat something, whether liquid or solid, and throw it up. Over time we saw him losing weight, drastically,” said Kwabena Katakayle Wright, Tivon’s father.

The recommendation from the North Caicos Clinic was for Tivon to see a pediatrician in Providenciales.  That visit resulted in an x-ray which exposed the issue and gave the doctors in Colombia the information they needed to prepare for their first international patient for type 1 achalasia.

An image sent to the team from the Turks and Caicos revealed the blockage; the doctors knew immediately what needed to happen and activated a life-changing plan.

“There was a blockage in the esophagus, and the pediatrician said there is no pediatric surgeon team in the Turks and Caicos, that we would have to go overseas.

That is when Nurse Mickel of the National Health Insurance Board contacted me and told us that we would be accepted in Colombia.”

The family embarked on the one-day trip to Colombia last November, and the effort to get Tivon back to good health was tireless.

“They were very professional.  From the time we arrived, the doctors and the nurses there were working around the clock.  I really admire their professionalism and the type of service that we received,” said Mr. Wright.

In a virtual interview with Magnetic Media earlier this week, the joy on the faces of the doctors who performed that life-altering surgery was unmistakable and heartening.

“From the time they saw the image sent to them from the Turks and Caicos, they already had a plan in their minds.”

Mr. Wright confirmed the same, adding that an endoscopy was performed for further evaluation of Tivon’s condition.

“They verified that yes, there was a blockage but the pediatrician and the surgeon wanted to see a little more.”

Tivon was taken to a second facility for that evaluation and then the surgery was scheduled.

“To correct this condition, the specialists performed a peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), a minimally invasive procedure. Using an endoscope, we made a controlled incision in the lower esophageal sphincter to reduce pressure and allow food to pass normally,” explained Dr. Acevedo. “This is the first POEM case in an international pediatric patient at HIC.”

The doctors said they are truly excited at the results for Tivon and reiterated that it was their experience that qualified them for the task.  We asked them about the possible origin of the condition.

“The specific cause of the disease is unknown, but there is a hypothesis that it is a viral infection and another hypothesis that it is an auto-immune disease that affects the throat and the esophagus.  But the actual cause is unknown.”

During the virtual interview, Tivon had an opportunity to also share his gratitude and feelings.  The student said that he was happy, that he trusted God the whole time and confirmed that his first meal, following the surgery, was an island favourite, “rice with chicken.”

It was prepared Colombian style and yes, it went down and stayed down to cement that master Wright was well on the road to full recovery.

“He can now eat normally, but it is important to continue with the follow up with the specialist and also with endoscopic images.”

A follow up visit to his doctors in Colombia is planned for this Summer.

Photos courtesy of Wright Family