MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT · whose theory all relate to lifestyle factors. For...

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

NEWSLETTER MAY 2017

VOL.18

Mosquito Awareness Week reminds the

nation of the risks of

mosquito borne

diseases

DOE hosts workshop on Climate Change

Antigua and Barbuda elected to chair prestig-

ious committee

Special points of

interest

A STYROFOAM FREE FORUM

WITH STAKEHOLDERS

LOOKS AT THE ALTERNATIVES

Nurses week beckons all to

lead healthier lives

Inside this Issue:

Mass Casualty Management Training Course addresses

critical areas

Antigua Village and Latter Day Saints make timely

donations to Care ProjectHealth and Environment Minister speaks of steps towards a

Styrofoam Free Antigua and Barbuda

A call for nurses to lead the charge in promoting

healthier lifestyles

www.healthwatchantiguaandbarbuda.com

Environment Department hosts workshop on climate change

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MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE ENIRONMENT

NEWSLETTER– MAY 2017

The workshop was held at the Department of the Envi-

ronment in May. It was funded by the Caribbean Community

Climate Change Center (5C’s) in Belize with support from

USAID.

Keith Nichols, Senior Project Development Specialist

facilitated the forum along with Co-Facilitator Diana Ruiz,

Science Officer at 5C’s.They conducted a full week of activities

through CCOR-AL, the online risk adaptation tool which is

geared towards embedding a risk management ethos in

decision making.

Nichols told the participants that climate change is real. Anti-gua and Barbuda, the Caribbean, and the rest of the world

continue to see its effects and impacts..

In a recent discussion with his Barbudan counterpart on issue of marine reefs, he noted that the coral reef experienced its greatest bleaching event in 2000-2016. he also stated that over 70 percent of the reef is now dead.

According to Nichols, humans are contributing to the impacts of climate change. He postulated that “Our own activities, whatever we are doing, our agricultural inputs , our industrial inputs into the sea or where itshouldn’t be, are compromising the ability of our ecosystems to build a resistance and reduce the impacts to climate change.”

He urged policy makers to think ‘climate risk’ in everything that they do.

“We have within our own development plans, our policies, our administrations, our day to day living, to think climate risk in everything single thing that we do. It’s all around us. The only way that we can build our resilience is if we are aware of what the issues are, what the impacts are, and then we can work collectively to find the solutions. We have a lot of work to do here.”

He said that although the small islands are not contributing much to emissions, they are still feeling the real-ities and effects of climate change.

The workshop was geared towards providing the tools and ability to think climate risk and find opportunitiesfor informing the work that we do in our daily lives, by using the CCORAL tools.

“It is designed by us in the Caribbean, for the Caribbean, and the onus is on us if we are serious about ad-dressing the issues that face us today and building a sustainable future for our future generations. Then we need to take this on as an instrument to support our decision making and to build a risk management ethos and resilience to the impact of climate change.”

Ms Ruiz shared the main focus of the workshop with the participants. She noted that

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"The participants will have an oppor-tunity to learn key concepts about cli-mate change and their variability. They will also get an introduction into the CCORAL tools, its various compo-nents, and they will have an opportuni-ty to apply the tool to an invisible na-tional activity to evaluate climate change considerations on that particu-lar activity; and we will also present our findings to policy makers at a poli-cy session this Friday, where we have invited permanent secretaries and oth-er individuals from the private sector to attend and listen in on these findings."

Head of the Department of Environ-ment, Ambassador Diane Black-Layne, said that the face of climate change is changing as political support was not a popular thing many years ago.

She said now, this is not the case as politicians , heads of state, Prime Ministers, Heads of CARICOM and the OECS are all understanding the need for environmental protection.

Although there is almost 100 percent open door to move ahead, she pointed to other areas that need strengthening. . "Where is the data? How do we move forward? How do we track what it is that we do, and how dowe provide good advice to our politicians? Normally we need to listen. How do we identify risks and how do we do it easily?"

Black-Layne cited Article 13 of the Paris Agreement which deals with transparency and impact. Many countries now have to collect data as a requirement and have to demonstrate that when they are assessing projects and programmes. She contends that they need to do a good enough assess-ment of their risks and that the CCORAL Initiative presents a great opportunity for them to do so.

She said if the coral is damaged, it usually indicates that other ecosystems will also get damaged. She said this is a great opportunity to work along with the whole region on a tool to bring about collective change in such an important area of environmental development.

The Environmental Legislation passed in 2015 speaks to the importance of data collection to be used as the basis on which decisions are made.


NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2017

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Nurses have been challenged to do more to encourage their clients to lead healthier lives.

This charge was issued by Mr. Walter Christopher, Per-manent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and the Envi-ronment, at the Official Opening and Lighting Ceremony to celebrate Nurses’ Week 2017 this month.

While reminding the nurses that promoting a healthier lifestyle should really start with them, he revealed that the ministry will go the extra mile in helping nurses to create a culture of dialogue with clients on the subject.

“There are techniques of initiating conversations with patients, in a patient-centered conversational style that will elicit a more receptive response from patients. The Ministry is willing, as part of its wellness focus, to seek training for frontline healthcare providers/nurses to ac-quire methods to motivate healthy behavioral change in patients and self.”

According to Christopher, a healthy lifestyle is a way of living that lowers the risk of being seriously ill or dying early. This involves physical activity/exercise for 30 minutes a day, healthy eating, weight control, avoiding processed foods, emotional well-being, and adequate sleep.

Also addressing the ceremony was Principal Nursing Officer Nurse Margaret Smith who noted the rele-vance of this year’s Nurses’ Week theme.

She said the theme - ‘Nurses leading the way in promoting healthier lifestyles,’ brings into sharp focus the types and nature of the diseases that are affecting people at this time in history and their im-pact on the health system and society on a whole, in terms of their associated mortality and morbidity and the role that lifestyle plays in their epidemiology.

“People are living longer lives, but they are also living with chronic diseases, sometimes multiple illnesses at a time, attributable to unhealthy lifestyles,” the PNO remarked.

Nurse Smith said that despite the amazing advances being made in health care, it is likely that the nation will continue to face serious health, social, and economic challenges that impact the well-being of many people.

However, she challenged nurses to view every one of these challenges as an opportunity for them to work together and to make a positive impact in addressing these challenges.

“As nurses, we represent the single largest body of health care workers. The nurse is often the first health care provider that the patient/client encounters on entering the health care system and the last they hear from as they exit. Nurses, therefore, are most strategically positioned to make a lasting impact on the health of individuals, groups and the society on a whole.”

Nurses told to lead the fight in promoting healthier lifestyles

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President of the Caribbean Nurses Organization (CNO), Nurse Elnora Warner said that the theme ‘Nurses, leading the way in promoting healthier lifestyles,’ em-braces the conceptual framework within which the nurses practice.

“It constitutes the very core of nursing care delivery espoused by early nurse theorists, the constructs of whose theory all relate to lifestyle factors. For exam-ple, the constructs of Florence Nightingale’s Environ-mental theory and Virginia Henderson’s 14 principles of nursing are all lifestyle-related factors,” Nurse Warner stated.

She continued, ‘Good Health and Well-being’ is listed as the number 3 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. If nurses are going to be a voice to lead and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, they must vigorously lead the way in promoting healthier lifestyles.”

In addition, according to Nurse Warner, the focus on promoting healthier lifestyles is a demonstration of how attuned the National Nurses Association (ABNA) and the Nursing fraternity are to the issues of the rel-

evance of nurses to the healthcare system here in Antigua and Barbuda.

For this, she strongly feels that nurses should be highly commended by the Ministry of Health and the Government by extension.

Nurse Warner noted that the conditions or diseases that are high on the list as the cause of mor-bidity and mortality in Antigua and Barbuda are all lifestyle related illnesses and evidence has shown that morbidity and mortality can be significantly reduced if people simply change their life-styles.

“Promoting healthy lifestyle will also help to increase work productivity and decrease the eco-nomic burden of Governments to maintain the health system’s burgeoning budget needed to meet the healthcare needs of its citizens. This can be significantly reduced by the simple prac-tice of healthier lifestyles.


NEWSLETTER– APRIL 2017

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The National Nurses Associations, ABNA, must play an important role in helping to keep nurses well informed, advised, encouraged and supported to deliver the best quality of nursing care possible," said Nurse Warner.

She further encouraged the ABNA to work with govern-ment and non-governmental organizations to strength-en the healthcare system as well as create conditions that will maximize the nurses’ contribution to healthcare delivery.

The chairperson of the night’s proceedings was Nurse Almarie Coates, Deputy Superintendent of Public Health Nurses who extended words of congratulations to Sister Karen Josiah on her recent appointment as President of the Antigua and Barbuda Nurses Association and Nurse Elnora Warner on her recent appointment as President of the Caribbean Nurses Organization.

Among the highlights of the ceremony was the en-trance of the lamp – a symbolic display of nursing ad-vancement.


NEWSLETTER—MAY 2017

Page 7

On May 19th, the staff at Mount St.

John’s Medical Centre (MSJMC) host-

ed a “Put on Purple” day in an effort

to raise awareness of lupus.

“Wearing purple on this day allows those who participate, the ability to share their story with those around them, increasing the overall aware-ness of the disease and the recently established local support group,"said Salma Crump, MSJMC Head of Marketing & Communications.

“Word of mouth is our most powerful tool, and if we can use it to increase public awareness and understanding of this disease (lupus) then that is a good thing. We cannot do it alone, we need others to know what lupus is all about - together we can make a big difference.”

Most people know little or nothing about lupus beyond the name.

Lupus symptoms can be severe and highly unpredictable and can damage any organ or

tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys.

Common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, painful or swollen joints, fever, and ane-

mia.



Employees at Mount St. John’s Medical Centre Raise Awareness for Lupus

Page 8



Representatives from a number of agencies are

now more knowledgeable about what it takes to

handle incidents of mass casualty if the need

arises.

This followed a one-week mass casualty man-

agement course which was conducted at the old

US Naval facility earlier this month.

The training course, sponsored by the Pan Amer-

ican Health Organization (PAHO) and the Canadi-

an Government, covered hurricanes, earth-

quakes, flood, fire and just about any mass casu-

alty incident that is likely to occur, whether man-

made or natural.

It attracted personnel from the health sector, fire

and police, the Red Cross, Emergency Manage-

ment Service (EMS) and Mount St. John Medical

Centre (MSJMC).

The participants received intense training in various aspects of mass casualty management, dealing with

multiple victims incidents and how they should coordinate with the various agencies in terms of their roles,

responsibilities and adaptability in the use of resources.

Certified Instructor Sherrod James was one of the local instructors who assisted the Pan American Health

Organisation’s (PAHO) Regional Instructor Mr. Peter Burgess in conducting the course. He also helped to

certify several persons who underwent instruction.

James said the response was very positive as persons learned a lot not only about what they are required

to do in instances of mass casualty but also about the roles and responsibilities of other partnering agen-

cies. They were also instructed on how to facilitate the coordination and collaboration at a national level

and how that process plugs into the national disaster management system and further into the regional

system.

Another presenter was local instructor David Matthery, Director of Operations at Mount St. John Medical

Centre. He said he covered areas such as planning for a disaster, the hospital reception of victims, and the

psychological aspect of mass casualty incidents.

He noted that “Mass casualty is an incident where five or more people are involved in a disaster, and it’s

important that first responders are trained to handle such situations. So we will have personnel coming

from fire, police, EMS, MSJMC, Red Cross etc., working together as one unit.”

Mass Casualty Management Training courses ends on high note

Page 9


NEWSLETTER– APRIL 2017

He also underscored the importance of properly handling

the psychological aspects of mass casualty events, point-

ing out that first responders need to know how to handle

victims who may be traumatized. “We never want a situ-

ation where due to the impact of an incident, victims of

mass casualty take out their frustration on their relatives

and other loved ones.”

Matthery continued, “As a team, the first responders

need to work together. There are times when personali-

ties will clash, but during a disaster we have to be in a

position to restrain our personal differences and work

together for the common good of saving lives.”

Corporal Anderson Tuitt of the Fire Department, an As-

sistant Instructor, also emphasized the mental aspect of

responding to mass casualty incidents, noting that it was as equally important as the response to physi-

cal injuries.

“How do you prepare yourself mentally to respond to mass casualty scenarios? As we say, you do the

greatest good for the greatest number of persons. So it means then that sometimes you’ll have to make

some rather harsh decisions, but it’s in the best interest of the large number of persons that you need to

save.”

Bioterrorism was also covered by Corporal Tuitt.

He said this is a reality that the country could be faced with one day, and teaching people how to re-

spond, how to be prepared for such an eventuality, and how to detect any abnormalities in day to day

operations, is very critical.

To respond efficiently and professionally and to remain calm are the important points he wants the par-

ticipants to take away from the one-week course.

PAHO’s Country Programme Specialist Reynold Hewitt said the theoretical and simulation exercises dur-

ing the training identified the strengths and weaknesses of the various agencies and discovered ways in

which they can perfect their skills in the event of a mass casualty incident in the country.

PAHO conducts continuous training throughout the region but for Antigua and Barbuda, it’s the first in a

while that such a course was conducted and it is expected that similar exercises will be carried out in the

future. Hewitt viewed the exercise here as very relevant and timely.

“Considering where Antigua is located in the hurricane zone, mass casualty incidents can occur at any

time, so this course is important for Antigua. If you can recall, there was an incident where persons were

trapped inside a barge and they were exposed to chemical substances. That ‘s an incident where the Fire,

Police and EMS personnel had to respond to. They had to set up their various posts in order to deal with

victims emerging from that incident, so it’s very important and relevant for Antigua to have this type of

training to be prepared in the event of any incident.”

He said there was a lot for the participants to take away like developing a mass casualty plan if they

don’t have one and the training also offered them guidelines on the various components that are required

for such a plan.

Regional Trainer in Mass Casualty Management for PAHO,

Peter Burgess, said the two-fold mass casualty course

served to re-certify local instructors as well as to certify per-

sons who would have started the instructor training.

He said he hopes the local instructors will continue the good

work that they are doing. He said the last time he was here

was in 2013 and the local instructors have been conducting

training over the years.

“This time now, we are here and with funding from the Ca-

nadian Government and PAHO; we are here to make sure

that the standards are maintained; everything is going the

way it supposed to be and we are getting the best out of it”.

He said the scenarios covered by the participants involved

incidents that involve a large number of casualties and the

training helped them to enhance their skills and their re-

sponse capabilities.

Burgess wants the participants to go back to their depart-

ments and teach and help to promote the response mechanism for their agencies.

He sees in-house training as an area that can be further enhanced, and he believes a multi-sectorial approach

is crucial in responding to mass casualty incidents.

Burgess listed medical triage, hurricanes, viruses, hospital reception and emergency response as areas that

are covered as part of continuous training in Antigua and basically all the Caribbean territories including Ber-

muda and the Bahamas. He said PAHO is pleased with the transformation it has seen in these areas.

“We have seen the benefits of the training, and I can say that by going to other Caribbean islands and seeing

how things have changed, I can say it works and it has been very, very beneficial.”

Page 10



Participants and Trainers at

Mass Casualty Workshop

Mr. Burgess

The ceremony was short and sweet but the gifts

presented by Antigua Village and its Homeowners

Association to the Care Project will last for a long

time.

The timely presentation this month of toiletries,

food, oral supplies and other urgently needed per-

sonal items was valued at ten thousand Eastern

Caribbean dollars (EC$ 10,000).

It was the second phase of donations made by Anti-

gua Village to the Care Project. The first occurred in

March of this year.

Operations Manager at the Care Project, Walton Ed-

wards said that the occasion was one which brought

much joy to the Ministry of Health & the Environ-

ment and to a greater extent, the Care Project.

“It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge the presentation that has been made here today

by Antigua Village. They have done this before. I’m sure the audience and the community remem-

bered that they made a presentation about two months ago and today they are fulfilling a pledge that

they would make this commitment and make it to the tune of EC ten thousand dollars,” Edwards re-

marked

He said Antigua Village has really been a dear friend of the Care Project, and he looks forward

to a continued relationship.

Edwards said the gifts will be used for the benefit of the residents at the Care Project and other

persons that pass through the facility.

“Anytime this is done, it only gets better because

it means that we have more resources to spend in other

areas and the donations will be better utilized.”

Acting General Manager of Antigua Village, Ms.

Samantha McKay said that Antigua Village and its home-

owners are delighted to be a part of this worthwhile ges-

ture and pleased to fulfill their commitment to the Care

Project.

Page 11



Antigua Village makes timely donation to Care Project

Principal Nursing Officer (PNO) Margaret Smith

L-R– Matron Delabastide and Ms

McKay

Page 12



“As I see the children’s faces today, I am so, so

happy, and our homeowners are so, so happy

with what were able to do. I see the staff here

with smiles on their faces; I just want to say

thanks. Sometimes we take you for granted.

Sometimes we are not aware of what happens in

the community in dealing with disabled children,

and I want to say to everyone that works at the

Care Project, to the Care Project team, to the

friends who have the patience and the commit-

ment to come here every day, thank you on be-

half of Antigua Village for doing what you do.”

President of the Antigua Village Home-

owners Association, Ms. Merle Odlum said that

she knows the additional donation will go a long

way in helping the cause of caring and sharing.

“Antigua Village is about community and that community realizes that we have a greater commu-

nity, that of Antigua and Barbuda; and it is a pleasure for the homeowners of Antigua Village to be able

to play a small part in the greater community of Antigua and Barbuda,” said Odlum.

She said she is optimistic that the mutual relationship will continue to grow to assist those in

need.

Matron of the Care Project, Nurse Juliette De la Bastide, in expressing deep appreciation for the

kind gesture, said she believes the ‘marriage’ created between both entities is a good one and is

longstanding.

In lauding the efforts of Antigua Village at the

March presentation, Minister of Health and

The Environment, the Hon. Molwyn Joseph

noted that a state will be judged by the way it

takes care of the downtrodden, the most vul-

nerable, and the most challenged in society.

He likened the Ministry’s partnership with An-

tigua Village and its Homeowners Association

to that of a happy marriage.

The Care Project, a division of the Ministry of

Health and the Environment, is home to a

group of disabled children with severe mental

and physical disabilities who receive basic

care. Most of them have been abandoned by

their families.

Page 13

A Mosquito Awareness Walk was held in St. John’s in May in observance of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week.

The week was designated by CARICOM, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Awareness (CARPHA), the three major organisations that are assisting regional countries in the fight to combat mosquitoes and the diseases that they transmit.

Chief Health Inspector Lionel Michael said that Antigua and Bar-buda has put together its own week of activities to mark the oc-casion.

“Today, what you are seeing here is one of the activities. We call it a walk to demonstrate awareness and bring awareness of mosquitoes and their threat and their dangers to society and what people can do to control and prevent mosquitoes,” Michael explained.

He said the Central Board of Health (CBH) Department converged at Judgement Square a few days earlier where an education programme took place.

“We had demonstrations; we had illustrations; we were showing mosquitoes; we had talks; and the public was very receptive.”

He said media appearances and intensive fogging in selective communities with high mosquito presence also formed part of the week’s activities.

The walk started at St. John’s Health Center, up Market Street, down New Gate Street, across Popeshead Street to Dickenson Bay Street to Cross Street, Government House, Round-About, down Independence Drive to Robin-son Gas Station and back to St. John’s Health Center.

Zika, Chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases are carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is com-mon around homes in Antigua and Barbuda

The mosquito lays its eggs on the walls of water containers that are found around the home.

The eggs hatch when submerged in water. Within eight (8) days, the mosquito completes its life cycle from egg to larvae to pupae and eventually to an adult flying mosquito.

Health authorities are urging members of the public to help reduce the mosquito population in their respective communities and the risk of exposure to disease by eliminating the larvae that grow in stored water.

Eliminating mosquito breeding sites, avoiding mosquito bites, and protecting pregnant women from Zika virus are the key messages of the inaugural Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week, launched earlier this month by CARPHA, PAHO, and the CARICOM Secretariat.

The main objective of Mosquito Awareness Week is to strengthen existing initiatives and mobilize the public to take action in eliminating mosquito breeding sites in public and private places.

The slogan for Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week is ‘Fight the bite, destroy mosquito breeding sites’ and the theme is ‘Small Bite, Big Threat.’



Mosquito Awareness March attracts widespread attention

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOSQUITO AWARENESS MARCH 2017

Page 14



Page 15



Page 16

It was all smiles from members on both the giving and re-

ceiving ends as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day

Saints made major donations to the Care Project which is

situated at the Old Children’s Ward at Holberton.

Operations Manager of the Care Project Walton Edwards

said when they there were in negotiations months ago to

get these items, they were between two minds as to what

to ask for; but they were happy to know that the Latter

Day Saints just wanted to know what their needs were.

He said some months later when they got back to them to

say that they had the list, he was truly amazed.

“I truly must say that even today, I’m still amazed at what

I’m seeing here and what has already come through. It

must have been a great sacrifice made by the members of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and also a

lot of thought went into what you have provided today for the residents of the Care Project and the Ministry of

Health. This is something that we will never forget. we cannot forget, not because of the amount but for the way

you put yourself out to ensure that the promise that you made to us came to pass.”

Principal Nursing Officer in the Ministry of Health and the Environment, Nurse Margaret Smith expressed the

Ministry’s appreciation for this kind gesture.

She said the Care Project is relatively new and any contribution received is well appreciated and will go a long

way in making conditions better for both residents and staff.

She urged all involved to ensure that the relationship

continues in mutual ways.

“I hope that we will continue this relationship with your

organisation and continue to build on that relationship

because as health care providers we see that you will al-

so be able to benefit. We are not only interested in get-

ting from our partners in the community but also for us

to reach out to you in the community and ensure that

you are taking care of yourself in terms of maintaining

good health because we are in the business of health

promotion and disease prevention.”



Care Project gets big gifts from Latter Day Saints

PNO Smith

Page 17



Elders Quorum President at Latter Day Saints, Carlos

Defreitas said that the church was pleased to be in-

volved in this gesture.

He said the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day

Saints has been proactive throughout the world for

decades, distributing and delivering to those in need.

The organisation’s mission is to relieve suffering and

to foster self reliance for people of all nationalities

and religions and to provide opportunities for ser-

vice.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints con-

siders humanitarian work to be an essential part of

its mission to bless all humanity as we emulate Je-

sus Christ who went about doing good and healing

all those who were oppressed. Throughout its histo-

ry, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

has always provided for those in need and perhaps is

best known for its efforts to take care of its own.”

Among the items donated by the Church were eight (8) delta ultra light electric beds with full rails, 1 wash-

ing machine, 1 dryer, 1 gas stove, mattress, mattress covers, computer, printer and kids and adult plastic

chairs with arms among other things.

The total cost of the items is $70,451.46.

Defreitas said the Latter Day Saints have donated substantial items in the past to include wheelchairs to

the then Holberton Hospital’s Amazing Grace Project.

Sister Marshall of Latter Day Saints said they’ve also helped the Sunshine Home for Girls, the St. John

Hospice and the Red Cross with various donations.

“What I like the best about this project is that we were

able to obtain so many of the items on island. I think that

the only things we brought in were the hospital beds and

the donation beds for the Red Cross. Everything else we

were able to purchase on island and benefit the economy

of the country, and I thought that was really great,” Mar-

shall beamed.

The Care Project, a division of the Ministry of Health and

the Environment, is home to a group of disabled children

with severe mental and physical disabilities who receive

basic care. Most of them have been abandoned by their

families.`

Page 18



HIGHLIGHTS OF LATTER DAY SAINTS PRESENTATION TO CARE PROJECT

Page 19

“We’ve had workshops every year for Nurs-

es’ Week, and they are usually held at our

headquarters; but this year we decided to

take it to Jolly Beach, and based on this

year’s theme, ‘Nurses leading the way in

promoting healthier lifestyles,’ we de-

cided to give it a different ring.”

So said the newly elected President of the

Antigua and Barbuda Nurses Association,

Nurse Karen Josiah as she took time out of

an intensely engaging afternoon yoga ses-

sion at Jolly Beach to speak with the PR

Team in the Ministry of Health and the Envi-

ronment.

The workshop formed part of the series of

activities which was held to observe Nurses’

Week 2017.

Nurse Josiah shared that earlier during the day at Jolly Beach, the nurses heard from Dr. Wendy Sealey,

a Nurse Psychiatrist from Barbados who spoke on the topic ‘Nurses and their Mental Health.’

Nurse Josiah said this presentation was very relevant, taking into consideration the nature of their pro-

fession.

“We work under tremendously stressful environment every day. It’s very demanding, and she basically

taught us how we as nurses need to relax and find ways to reduce our own personal stress, so we will be

able to cope with our work environment.”

Other topics covered by the Nurse Psychiatrist were incivility and bullying in the workplace.

According to Nurse Josiah, these two issues can affect their work and cause undue stress if they are not

effectively addressed.

‘’How we work in the workplace and how we deal with people, even people with different personalities, it

can come across as bullying, come across as being very forceful, so persons can have stress even in the

workplace. So she basically taught us also how to work with that,” Nurse Josiah remarked.

Workplace ethics was another topic addressed by another presenter.

The yoga session was very enlightening according to Nurse Josiah and although some parts of it were

challenging, she said they’ve learnt a lot.



Nurses get physically and educationally refreshed at Jolly Beach.

Page 20



Mr. Malique Williams was teaching us how we can use our

bodies to relax; relax the muscles and breathe properly; and

these techniques we can use whenever we feel stressful. But it

was fun. We found some of it challenging; some of our mus-

cles are aching; but he taught us how to stretch our bodies to

another limit. We have the handouts that we can take home,

and we can practice these techniques just to relax. He said

even just breathing properly is a way of relaxing.”

Nurse Josiah said the turn-out at this year’s session was so

overwhelming that the numbers had to be slashed.

“This year, we had to cut our list down. There was so much

interest, and many called and wanted to be a part of the ses-

sion; but unfortunately, we couldn’t cater for more than 90 persons, so we had to cut it down from a list

of 120. But we promised them that later in the year we would have another workshop for them.”

Nurse Josiah said that the nurses learnt a lot from Dr. Sealey’s session as she shared her personal expe-

rience with them about overcoming certain health challenges as she was pushing herself and taking little

or no time out for herself.

Nurse Josiah said that was a wake-up call for nurses to change their approach and balance their lives

more.

‘We need to take some time out for ourselves every time because the nurses are the ones who care for

people, and as you care for people you need to spend some time and care for yourself. I know as nurses

it comes natural; and we want to go and go; but we still need to care of ourselves.”

The day’s exercise ended with the presentation of certificates to confirm certain requirements for regis-

tration as a Registered Nurse (RN).

“The nurses who attend are assured of seven (7) hours of continuing education; and they need these 7

hours because to re-register as an RN you need 30 hours of continuing education; so that you can be

registered with the nursing council. In one day they are getting seven hours; and they need that certifi-

cate as a way of certifying that they did attend; and that they were there for the session; and that they

participated.”

Nurses’ Week officially ended with a Banquet and Awards ceremony in honour of nurses who have served for 25 years in the nursing profession. This year plaques were awarded to eight nurses.

The honourees were Margaret Benjamin , Cynthia Byers , Marcia Charles ,Lynette Daniels , Maureen Downer , Ingrid Elliot , Charmaine Govia and Joyce Williams. Nurse Cynthia Byers delivered remarks on behalf of her colleagues.

Principal Nursing Officer in the Ministry of Health, Margaret Smith charged the honourees to maintain the standard of work that has brought them thus far in the profession.

National Nurses’ Week is celebrated each year during the week that includes May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Nightingale is a British woman who is considered the founder of modern nursing.

Page 21

Health and Environment Minister outlines steps to make the country Styrofoam free

The Honourable Molwyn Joseph, Minister of Health and

the Environment and other Ministry officials met with

stakeholders on Thursday 18th May 2017 to outline the

steps that will be taken towards the restriction on the

importation and use of Styrofoam food service products

in Antigua and Barbuda.

The restriction follows a three-phased process beginning

with a public awareness and education campaign which

will run until June 30th, 2017.

This will be followed by Phase two (2) which deals with

the restriction on the importation of Expanded Polysty-

rene (Styrofoam) food service products. This phase will

be separated into three stages with pre-determined

start dates.

Phase three (3) of the restriction program will focus on Product Phase Out and there will be six (6)

months between each stage for current stocks to be depleted. The product phase out interval will be fol-

lowed by monitoring and if the need arises, confiscation.

Stage one of the phase two process starts on July 1st, 2017. This stage covers food service products

ranging from (clamshells, hinge containers, hot dog containers, and all other EPS containers, bowls,

plates and hot and cold beverage cups which will be restricted from entering the ports of Antigua and

Barbuda. There will be a six-month interval for the depletion of stock on hand. Stage one ends December

31st, 2017

Stage two commences on January 1st, 2018 and concludes on June 30th, 2018. During this period the

Styrofoam importation restrictions will apply to utensils (spoons, forks and knives), fruit trays, meat

trays, vegetable trays and egg cartons.

Stage three importation restrictions begin on July

1st, 2018 and ends on January 1st, 2019. This stage

covers polystyrene (Styrofoam) coolers.

The restrictions will extend to all businesses within

the food service industry to include large and small

supermarkets, grocery stores and the catering in-

dustry in Antigua and Barbuda.

Legislation and regulations will soon be enacted to

lend weight to the restrictions on importation and

use of polystyrene products and to the importation

of replacement products.



Page 22

During the meeting, several samples of alternative food service products were presented to the stake-

holders and the media.

Minister Joseph said that all alternative products – made of sugarcane (bagasse), PLA cornstarch, wheat

straw, bamboo, potato starch, areca palm and cardboard/paper- listed for approval in the legislation, will

be Tax-Free.

“Cabinet confirms that tax-free means the elimination of RRC, duties, ABST and any associated levy,”

said Joseph.

The Minister, however, cautioned businesses that the alternative products must meet the required stand-

ards and that the importers of the alternatives listed in the regulations/legislation must present certifi-

cates from manufacturers and accredited labs for verification.

Joseph noted that airline carriers, private charters and major cruise liners would be exempted until fur-

ther notice from the Ministry of Health and the Environment.

He further added that the regulations and legislation, due to be finalized by January 2018 will also ad-

dress penalties for offenders.

He was quick to add however that there was no need to consider penalties associated with the elimina-

tion of plastic bags. This he said was highly commendable and lauded the public for its support of the

initiative.

The Minister revealed that the plastic bag ban campaign will soon enter the second stage with the distri-

bution of over 60,000 shopping bags to neighborhood and community stores and shops. Each would re-

ceive at least 200 bags to be given to their customers.

He also alluded to emerging plans for the creation of a Composting Site to help with decomposing alter-

nate materials to be used in place of polystyrene. To kick-start this program, there are plans in place to

secure two (2) acres of land at the Cooks Landfill.

The Health and Environment Minister said that the initiative to make Antigua and Barbuda Styrofoam free

along with the ongoing plastic bag ban campaign and the future Composting Site are symbolic of his Min-

istry’s continuing policies and programs geared at making Antigua and Barbuda cleaner, healthier and

safer for generations to come

He commended Indira James, the Ministry’s Environmental Implementation Officer, Legal Advisor Andrea

Jacobs as well as Simone Nicholas and Arica Hill for their invaluable role in the Styrofoam ban initiative.

The stakeholders gathered also used the opportunity to pose questions and share comments, the vast

majority of them seeming to be on board with the initiative.

Concern was raised about the possibility of increased food costs based on the introduction of the alterna-

tive products but Minister Joseph and other stakeholders said there would hardly be a price hike since

importation of the alternative products will be tax-free.

Among the stakeholders who attended the meeting were representatives from Horizon’s Supplies, Frank

B. Armstrong, Gloria’s Supermarket, A.S Bryden, Gore Global Group, Burger King, Epicurean Fine Foods,

Island Provision, Hutchinson Antigua Ltd, Goddard Catering, KFC Antigua Ltd, Customs, Central Board of

Health (CBH) and National Solid Waste.



Page 23



PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS OF ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS AS WE MOVE TOWARDS A STYROFOAMFREE NATION!!!

MAKE THE SWITCH………...AVOID THE RISK

Page 24

Another of the Nutrition Department’s educational programmes

within the Ministry of Health and the Environment ended on a

high note late last month.

Take Me Down by Four (TMD4), which was held at the Browne’s

Avenue Clinic, is a self- management program that was locally

created after hundreds of assessments, counseling sessions

and various interventions for the management of Diabetes, Hy-

pertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.

Hyperlipidemia is an elevation of one or more fat proteins in

the blood. It is commonly referred to as high cholesterol.

According to TMD4’s Creator and Co-Facilitator, Susan Gardner,

the cholesterol patients achieved the highest rate in the pro-

gramme.

“There was an overwhelming reduction in the post values for

cholesterol and the participants were ecstatic at their read-

ings,” beamed Gardner.

Other facilitators of the programme were Dr. Anthony, former

Dietician at Mount St John’s Medical Center (MSJMC) and cur-

rently Chief Nutritionist within the Ministry of Health, Samantha

Moitt, former Chief Nutritionist in the Ministry of Health, Avis

Jonas and Health and Fitness expert Rex James.

Gardner is hoping that the participants will continue to use the information they received, not just for a period

of time, but to make it a part of their daily lives.

Carlene Ephraim won the gift for being the person who has lost the most weight.

The goals of the TMD4 are to significantly reduce all values and improve skills for self-management of these

conditions within 4 months.

The programme was conducted once a week for four weeks with the following focus:

Introduction, complications, and treatment of the condition

Conditions’ treatment/management with Diet

Cooking class session specific for the condition

Exercise session

The participants then self-managed their health conditions for three months before returning for a re-

evaluation.

TMD4 reaps favourable rewards



L-R– Mrs. Gardner and Ms. Ephraim

Page 25

Antigua and Barbuda was appoint-ed as chair of Committee B, which discusses budget issues at the 70th World Health Assembly which was held in Geneva, Switzerland this month.

Health and Environment Minister Molwyn Joseph chaired the com-mittee which addressed issues re-lated to finance, human resources in health, management and budg-et of WHO.

Its resolutions on those topics were presented to the plenary sessions of the Assembly for final approval.

Joseph has been Minister of Health and Environment since 2014. Pre-

viously, he served as Minister of Finance and Commerce, Minister of Tourism and of En-vironment in different administrations in his country. He has also been a legislator for several decades.

Countries in the Americas appointed to occupy positions during the recently held World Health Assembly, include Panama and Paraguay, which serve on the Credentials Com-mittee; Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the United States.

Brazil will become one of the members of the Executive Board of WHO, and Canada will hold the vice-presidency of that body.



Antigua and Barbuda chairs Prestigious Committee of WHO

Page 26



For the third time this year, the Antigua and Barbuda Care

Project at the Old Holberton Hospital was the recipient of a

timely contribution , when it was presented with over two

thousand dollars worth of items from the Antigua and Barbu-

da Royal Police Force Corporate Credit Union.

Among the items given were a large quantity of canned food,

dry goods, ground provisions, fruits, toiletries, disinfectants,

under pads and bottled.

Moments before handing over the items, President of the Po-

lice Credit Union, Claudette Brathwaite Mason likened the

newly formed alliance to that of a healthy marriage.

“From the bottom of our hearts, we feel so proud and good to

see that after visiting the children that they were in really

need of these things and rest assured that it is a marriage between the Police Credit Union and the Care

Project,” said Brathwaite Mason.

Director of the Care Project Walton Edwards was also on hand, and during his brief remarks dis-

closed that the Project was grateful for the marriage and promised to use the items for the full benefit of

all the residents at Care Project.

“We just want to say on behalf of the Ministry of Health and the Environment and the Care Pro-

ject, thank you to the Police Credit Union for these tangible items that they have given to us today; and

we can assure you that they will be put to the best use possible. Again, the marriage is just starting,”

said Edwards.

The event was attended by a number of individuals from the Royal Police Force, including Inspec-

tor Frankie Thomas who is a member of the Police Credit Union’s Credit Committee.

Inspector Thomas disclosed that the timely gesture coincides with the Credit Union’s sixtieth year

of existence in the twin island state.

“We want to give back. As part of the sixtieth celebration of the Police Corporate Credit Union, we

want to give back to society. They are the ones, the fathers, the parents, the forefathers, they are the

ones who help to build this institution, and it is only necessary that we give back to those who are less

fortunate in society.”

As a sign of the newfound partnership, a cake was also presented and symbolically cut by Heather

Farrell-Daley and a resident of the Care Project.

The donation came on the heels of recent gestures from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Antigua Village Home Owners Association.

Care Project gets third major donation in months

Page 27



‘

A one day workshop on Fire Safety and Detector

Installation was held on Thursday 25 May, 2017 at

the Transport Board Conference room.

The workshop was a collaborative effort between

the Ministry of Health and the Environment and

the Antigua and Barbuda Fire Service.

Minister of Health, the Honourable Molwyn Joseph

threw his full support behind this initiative. It fol-

lowed an upsurge in house fires, one of which re-

sulted in the deaths of two persons from the Jen-

nings Community.

The exercise was spearheaded by Director of The

Antigua and Barbuda Emergency Medical Services

(EMS) Shawn Greenidge who was ably assisted by

Senior Sergeant George Delperche, Corporal An-

derson Tuitt, and Constable Ishmael James of the

Fire prevention Unit within the Fire Service Department. Approximately 20 persons from various com-

munities throughout the island participated in the fire safety and installation workshop.

Twenty-five thousand smoke detectors, donated by the People’s Republic of China to the government in

May, will soon be distributed and installed in homes throughout the island. The authorities will target per-

sons in low-income households and individuals living in wooden structures.

In sharing stats on fire incidents, the Fire Service said that there were a total of 384 fires in 2016, 62 of

which were house fires with 3 deaths. So far in 2017, the Fire Service has received 211 calls including 19

house fires.

The Director of the EMS also used the opportunity to make a special appeal to the government of Antigua

and Barbuda.

“I am appealing to the government of Antigua and Bar-

buda to come to the assistance of citizens and residents

by offering concessions or tax waivers on fire safety

equipment which would allow more persons to purchase

them for residential or commercial use.” Greenidge ex-

pressed his gratitude to all who participated in the exer-

cise,

“Special thanks to all who participated, especially to the

instructors of the Fire Prevention Unit within the Fire

Department. Thanks for your unwavering dedication to

national service and your willingness to assist in this

particular activity” said Greenidge

A move to prevent incidents of fire in the home

Page 28



The Ministry of Health and the Environment has

made a most important move to ensure that the

blood bank at Mount St. John Medical Centre always

has sufficient blood to handle emergencies.

The government has secured a mobile blood collec-

tion unit, a donation from the Blood and Transplant

Division of the National Health Service (NHS) of the

United Kingdom

Around the middle of last year, Minister of Health and the Environment Molwyn Joseph and senior Min-

istry of Health technicians, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, held discussions

with a Consultant from NHS, Rudi Page, on ways in which the organization could assist the health min-

istry to procure medical supplies and equipment, and in any other way co-operate with the government

in providing high quality, easily accessible and sustainable health care services to all.

This meeting followed one that was organized by Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to the UK,

Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, with the health minister, senior Antigua and Barbuda health technicians

and NHS Reps, in London last year.

The donation of the mobile blood bank has come as a result of those discussions between the govern-

ment of Antigua and Barbuda and the NHS on the country’s health system transformation programme.

The ultimate goal of the programme is to provide high-quality care and easily accessible and sustaina-

ble services. The establishment of a public health laboratory was another area discussed during the

2016 London meeting, but this initiative will take place at a later date.

A mobile laboratory unit to collect specimens from qualifying patients of the community healthcare system is also being planned. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rhonda Sealy Thomas, said that the mobile blood collection unit will be officially launched on June 14th, which coincides with World Blood Donor Day (WBD).

WBD is held each year to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation and to recognize the

contribution of voluntary unpaid blood donors in saving lives and improving health

‘Mobile unit will be a great public boost to blood donation since most people are not in-

clined to go to the hospital to give blood.’

Senior Medical Officer, Dr. James Knight, said that the plan is to have the unit manned and operated

by staff from the Ministry of Health, Mount St John Medical Centre, the Antigua and Barbuda Red

Cross and the Medical Benefits Scheme. He noted that the vast amount of experience that the Red

Cross has in blood collection should prove invaluable to making the project successful.

“Red Cross has great experience in getting blood donations from workplaces especially. You know

that they go sometimes to hotels and other workplaces, so they may have a day or two when they

have 40, 50, 60 workers to donate blood. Now, when they arrange that, they can work along with

the other partners, for all the necessary support,” Dr. Knight explained.

Mobile Blood Collection Unit hits the road soon

Page 29



He continued, “whereas the Red Cross would go and set up tents and put some beds under them, this

effort is to keep the operation mobile and even more private.”

Dr. Knight said from all reports, the Red Cross has had good experiences over the years. The public

has been quite supportive.

“It takes about 25-30 minutes for each transfusion, so even if you’re doing four at a time and you

have 60 people for transfusion, you’re talking about a day’s work”.

He sees the introduction of the mobile unit as a great public boost to blood donation since most peo-

ple are not inclined to go to the hospital to give blood.

“That is unless a relative or close friend has an emergency. But when a drive is done at workplaces or

in the community, the response is more favourable.”

Dr. Knight said the blood bank at the hospital has the capacity to hold some 300 units but on an aver-

age, they would have 25-30 units. That is really a crisis situation.

The hospital knows the average rate at which it uses blood, and would therefore determine the cut-off

point for donations during any drive. The point is to have enough always to cover emergencies.

“Because if you have 25-30 units, you really don’t have for an emergency”, Dr. Knight pointed out.

He said accessing the full variety of blood types is also crucial to saving lives.

“To have the various blood types is also important because you may have enough units of blood if it

were the case that you could use any blood type for anybody, but you might have difficulty finding a

compatible type. AB positive patients can take blood from anyone, but that’s not the case with the

others. O negative persons can only take O negative blood, so it’s important to have donors of that

type.

“The universal blood donors are the O negative persons. They give to everyone and can only take

their own type. They are also the scarcest blood type. It’s good to know the O Negative donors and

encourage them to give as often as it is healthy for them to do so,” said Dr. Knight.

He said blood donors are always interviewed and some could be advised not to donate, due to their

medical history or general condition.

The first World Blood Donor Day was observed in 2004, which was followed by its designation as an

annual global event by the Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly in 2005.

World Blood Donor Day has a further purpose of creating a wider awareness throughout the world

about the need for availability and appropriate use of safe blood and blood products, and the need for

many more people to make a commitment to regular voluntary unpaid blood donation.

Page 30



Health Disaster Management Plan upgraded and updated

With the aim of finalizing a multi-hazard health

disaster management plan for the twin-island

state, a number of stakeholders gathered at the

Ministry of Health and the Environment Headquar-

ters to update and upgrade the current health dis-

aster response plan.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday (May 31st),

a retired senior medical officer from Barbados, Dr

Elizabeth Ferdinand, noted that disasters are more

than just a natural phenomenon like hurricanes

but also involves other situations that pose grave

threats to the population.

“What we are looking at really is to finalize the

multi-hazard disaster management plan for Anti-

gua and Barbuda. Now the plan was in place since

last year but it needs updating and upgrading to

include multi-hazards and not just hurricanes,”

said Dr Ferdinand.

The medical official also emphasized that it’s all about preparations, having the best response plan

in place and to be ready to react to all eventualities.

“Well, with any disaster, the more prepared you are for it, the better you will be able to manage

it; and there will be less damage and loss of life or injuries to persons. That’s the whole purpose, in that

you have to be prepared, and you are going to do the things you need to do beforehand so if a disaster

does occur you can respond well,” she added.

Another individual heavily involved in the process is Dr. Lori-ann Henry-Johnson, a senior medical

officer with responsibilities for health disaster coordination and communication.

When asked to give a synopsis of what the group was trying to accomplish, Henry-Johnson de-

clared that the overall aim is to strengthen and improve the country’s abilities to respond to all disaster

emergencies.

“What we are actually doing today is trying to finalize our health sector disaster management plan

and this plan does not only look at managing disasters but also reducing our risk for disasters,” Henry

Johnson noted.

The three-day event, which ran from Monday to Wednesday this week, was attended by a number

of individuals from a wide cross-section of the country’s health, disaster and emergency response institu-

tions.

Among the attendees were representatives from the Emergency Medical Services, the Disability

Centre, Fiennes Institute, the Royal Police Force and the Fire Department, the National Solid Waste Man-

agement Authority, and doctors attached to the Ministry of Health.

The Medical Benefits Scheme, Health Information Division, Central Board of Health, National Of-

fice of Disaster Management Services, the AIDS Secretariat and the Red Cross were also represented at

the function.

Page 31

The Medical Benefits Scheme, Health Information Division, Central Board of Health, National Of-

fice of Disaster Management Services, the AIDS Secretariat and the Red Cross were also represented at

the function.

Photos of Stakeholders gathered at the Ministry of Health and the Environment Head-

quarters to update and upgrade the current health disaster response plan.

Page 32

Address by Chair—Antigua and Barbuda Tobacco Free Initiative



Antigua and Barbuda once again observes the Antigua and Barbuda No To-

bacco Week from 24th May 2017 culminating on 31st May 2017 which is

World No Tobacco Day. We the members of the Antigua and Barbuda To-

bacco Free Initiative (ABTFI) continue to extend our full appreciation and

gratitude to all who have provided unrelenting support to our efforts as we

seek to continuously improve Antigua and Barbuda’s tobacco control initia-

tives. The theme for this year’s World No Tobacco Day is: “Tobacco – a

threat to development”. It is indisputable that tobacco-use has devas-

tating repercussions to one’s health. Years of research has cemented the

fact that tobacco use is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseas-

es.

In 2008 the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Margaret Chan noted that “Tobacco

use can kill in so many ways that it is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of death in the

world.” Statistics reveal a clear correlation between the number of cigarettes consumed and the number

of cases of lung cancer from the early 1900s to the current time.

Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart and lungs, with smoking being a major

risk factor for heart attack, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and can-

cer. When one gets sick, she or he inevitably becomes less productive as the focus is now spent on recov-

ery. Inescapably, the personal burden as a direct result of tobacco use is tremendous!

The high economic costs of regular use of this addictive product, coupled with the related severe health

complications negatively impact most aspects of personal development. Added to this is the socio-

economic burden that nations suffer as they try to grapple with the spate of tobacco-instigating health and

societal problems which unavoidably arise. It therefore follows that as the adverse effects of tobacco use

permeate, not only is the individual’s capacity to advance inhibited but by extension, the nation becomes

lesser and lesser productive and this inevitably threatens national development. “Approximately 80%

of the 1.2 billion smokers in the world live in poorer countries.”

To keep ourselves and our country within the productive path, we must make certain that we wholeheart-

edly promote and support the enactment of stringent tobacco control legislation which will ensure that

strong measures are in place to control the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of tobacco products.

The cigarette is perhaps the only legal product which when used as directed kills almost half of its users.

In the 20th century, approximately 100 million people died worldwide from tobacco-associated diseases

and the WHO estimates a rise to 1 Billion by 2099 if corrective mechanisms are not put in place. Approxi-

mately 80% of the 1.2 billion smokers in the world live in poorer countries and consumption is increasing

in developing countries by approximately 3.4 %.

The costs incurred by tobacco use are more than US$190 billion per year in the United States alone. Of

this amount, approximately half is attributable to health-related costs and half to lost productivity.

Page 33

The incidence of impotence is approximately 85% higher in male smokers compared to non-smokers and

is a key factor causing erectile dysfunction. Among the 4000 chemicals detected in tobacco smoke, 60

are known or suspected to be carcinogens. Cigarettes sold in developing nations tend to have higher tar

content and are less likely to be filtered, potentially increasing our vulnerability to tobacco-related dis-

ease. With the foregoing in mind, it ought to be explicitly clear that strong and comprehensive tobacco

control legislation is an absolute necessity thereby augmenting personal and national development.

“It is well known that the tobacco industry aims at attracting the youth to its products.”

Let’s clear the air regarding second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke kills. Involuntarily inhaled smoke

which lingers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished can cause a wide range of adverse

health effects, including cancer and respiratory infections. Second-hand smoke has been estimated to

cause 38,000 deaths per year, of which 3,400 are deaths from lung cancer. There is no safe level of ex-

posure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoking is smoking and as such, second-hand smoke is a

threat to personal and national development.

In tobacco-control circles, it is well known that the tobacco industry aims at attracting the youth to its products. In many countries, school children have reportedly been directly and indirectly exposed to to-bacco advertising and related forms of promotion and marketing of tobacco products. Tobacco compa-nies have sought to provide and publicize sponsorship of young persons who desire to pursue educational training or advance their personal and professional lives in some manner.

The youth are now a prime target for Electronic Cigarettes and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems as these products are creatively packaged, displaying a number of eye-catching flavors which excites and stimulates the inquisitive mind of our youth. Unfortunately, it is this fascination which ultimately leads to the first attempt and then addiction and eventual health hazards which generally tend to totally devas-tate prospects for a productive life thereby negatively impacting the national vision for development.

Since the year 2000, the ABTFI has been unrelenting in our contribution towards improved health and

productivity in Antigua and Barbuda, the Caribbean and beyond. The effort of the ABTFI supports health

and development! The ABTFI is certain that we have achieved an appreciable measure of success over

the years but we are also very cognizant of the fact that within a very short time, the tobacco industry

can use creative approaches supported by its vast resources to circumvent all our years of yeoman ser-

vice to our country, region and the world.

With this in mind, we continue to encourage all to increasingly support tobacco control activities and to

join the effort of the Antigua and Barbuda Tobacco Control Initiative as we unremittingly alleviate the

threat to our development caused by the use of tobacco products.

By Colin O’Keiffe Chairperson ABTFI

Page 34

WORLD NO-TOBACCO DAY PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS MAY 31ST 2017



ABTFI Members teaching students at Cobbs Cross Primary School about the

dangers of Tobacco.

ABTFI Members in studio with DJ

Blondelle

Timely Information and Health Tips!!!!!!!!

Page 35


NEWSLETTER— APRIL 2017

Your B- Blood is Important

B Negative

As a B Negative blood donor, you are unique due to the rarity of your blood. Because your blood is ra-re, it is important to maintain sufficient supplies for our community and local patients. In fact, only 1 in 67 people have B- blood (approximately 1.5% of the population).

Your regular and frequent blood donations are especially valued, and many in our area will be given a fighting chance at life because of your generous gift.

Thank you for being a blood donor.

What’s Your Type?

O+ 1 in 3 37.4%

A+ 1 in 3 35.7%

B+ 1 in 12 8.5%

AB+ 1 in 29 3.4%

O- 1 in 15 6.6%

A- 1 in 16 6.3%

B- 1 in 67 1.5%

AB- 1 in 167 .6%

Source: America’s Blood Centers

Compatible Blood Types

O- can receive O-

O+ can receive O+, O-

A- can receive A-, O-

A+ can receive A+, A-, O+, O-

B- can receive B-, O-

B+ can receive B+, B-, O+, O-

AB- can receive AB-, B-, A-, O-

AB+ can receive AB+, AB-, B+, B-, A+, A-, O+, O-

Compatible Plasma Types

O can receive O, A, B, AB

A can receive A, AB

B can receive B, AB

AB can receive AB

Information Provided by Dr. James Knight

Senior Medical Officer– MOHE

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT


UPCOMING NOTICES AND EVENTS!!!!!!!!

Exercise Class………..

The Ministry of Health and the Environ-

ment’s Exercise Class takes place every

Tuesday , 5.00pm in front of the Ministry

of Health and the Environment’s head-

quarters at Lower High and Long Streets.

Styrofoam-Free Open-House/Showcase

June 30th 2017

Botanical Gardens

Like us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/investingforwellness



The Ministry of Health and the Environment Newsletter is a Monthly production by the staff of the Public Relations Department within the Ministry of Health

and the Environment .

Please remember to submit information on a major event that took place in your respective departments so that it can be featured in our next issue.

Special Thanks – All Communications staff within the various departments, the Health Information Division , Mrs. Jonas , Mr. Bertrand Joseph, Mr. Adlai Carrott

and MSJMC’S Communications team.

In our June 2017 ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Great response to Styrofoam-free Consultation

-Ministry of Health and the Environment puts its mobilce blood unit to work

-Retirees officially recognized at special awards event

And many more interesting articles..

Happy reading...

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