EVENING NEWS On the local scene The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) health ministers will meet in here on tomorrow to develop a comprehensive strategy to help mitigate emerging viral diseases, particularly, Chickungunya and Ebola. The meeting, which will be addressed by the director general of the OECS Commission, will engage various regional and international agencies to develop urgent and innovative strategies to combat these debilitating diseases. Another important item on the ministers’ agenda is the World Pediatric Project, which operates in St Vincent and the Grenadines, providing medical assistance in country and in the USA. The meeting will explore mechanisms to expand the project to serve the children of the OECS. Ministers and technical personnel will also discuss the annual work program of the OECS pharmaceutical procurement service, which is responsible for the procurement and management of medical products for the OECS public health sector. For the past year, the OECS pharmaceutical procurement service (OECS/PPS) purchased approximately $22 million worth of medical products, which resulted in aggregate cost savings of $4.35 million. The OECS/PPS annual report reveals that the availability of medicines in the OECS member states was satisfactory, and citizens had access to essential medicines to sustain their health care. And The Unity Labour Party is this week celebrating its 20th anniversary as a Political Party. Prime Minister and Party Leader, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says Thursday October 16th marks a significant milestone in the history of the ruling Unity Labour Party. He expressed appreciation to individuals whom he said have contributed significantly to his political career. More on the local scene Young people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will get an opportunity to interact and receive guidance from Professionals on making career choices at the 10th Annual College and Career Exhibition which will be staged here from tomorrow. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Medical Association, is partnering with the Ministry of Education to host the Exhibition under the theme “Choose a Career: Unlimited Possibilities”. Education Officer responsible for Media, Marla Nanton says Career Guidance and Education is one of the priority areas of the Ministry of Education. She says the idea is to provide students with information and resources needed to make informed decisions about their career path. Ms. Nanton says during the two-day event, didactic presentations will be delivered from Local, Regional and International Institutions. The Exhibition takes place this Wednesday and Thursday at the Kingstown Methodist Church Hall, beginning at 9am daily. On the regional scene in KINGSTON,JAMAICA- A Kingston woman and her two daughters charged with the alleged knife-slaying of their neighbor following a dispute over obeah are scheduled to return to Corporate Area Resident Magistrates Court on December 1st for a preliminary hearing. 40yr old Stephanie Hall-Beckford and her daughters Yanique Smith, 21; and 22-year-old Garfiesha Smith are charged with murder and conspiracy to murder in relation to the April 23 death of Tanesha Bottom. Allegations are that, on the day in question, the accused were involved in a quarrel with Bottom and the police were summoned. During their mediation, Bottom reportedly went inside her house and returned with a bottle containing a liquid substance and a ratchet knife, but was disarmed by members of the police team. Shortly afterwards, while the police were still present, it was reported that Garfiesha allegedly used a knife to stab Bottom in her chest. The injured woman was rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The court heard that Bottom, in a previous case, had accused Hall-Beckford and another woman of working obeah on her. She had told the court that the women had sprinkled white rum, chickens blood and white rice in her yard. Hall-Beckford was charged with practising obeah while the other woman was charged with soliciting the practice of obeah. However, the charges against both women were later withdrawn. More on the regional scene in GEORGETOWN, Guyana-Guyana has a mass preparedness campaign on-stream as the Ebola virus continues to cause worldwide uproar. This is according to Dr Johanna Cole, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) internal medicine-infectious diseases consultant. Speaking at a continued medical education (CME) session Cole noted that the ministry of health has taken on a mass preparedness approach towards the virus. She pointed out that 1,600 medical professionals will soon commence training on dealing with the virus, and the necessary approach towards administering care to persons who have contracted the virus as opposed to those who are suspected to have it. In addition, emphasis will be placed on safety and precautionary measures for health care providers, who may come in contact with an infected person or environment, as the Ebola virus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through direct or indirect contact with bodily fluids. She added that surveillance at all ports of entry including airports and shipping ports, as well as screening is being done. Further, meetings have been held to educate persons working at these points. Cole noted that isolation capacity is ready at the airports and the largest isolation housing unit is at the GPHC. Guyana has also moved towards establishing an action plan to deal with the deadly virus, and in this regard a wide cross section of stakeholders from various organizations had a recent meeting to discuss and establish the measures to be undertaken in order to put the plan into operation.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:59:16 +0000
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