Health
PAHO opens contest on best experiences in health promotion in cities, schools and universities in the Americas - Apr 11, 2017 - 2:25:53 PM

Deadline for applications: May 12

Washington, D.C. - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is inviting entries for a contest that will recognize outstanding health promotion practices developed by cities, schools, universities and institutions of higher education in the Americas.

The Significant Experiences in Health Promotion Contest will accept applications through May 12, 2017.

A total of 12 winning experiences will be selected in the following categories: health education with a comprehensive approach, working in a network, building knowledge in health promotion, and intersectoriality...

Health
New Collaboration Expands Availability of Gastrointestinal Healthcare in Nassau - Apr 9, 2017 - 1:26:44 PM

Comprehensive gastrointestinal services are now available at Family Medicine Center clinic on Blake Road, as a result of a new collaboration with The Centre for Digestive Health.

Through the new working arrangement, Dr. Harold Munnings and Dr. Flloyd Carter of The Centre for Digestive Health are able to make their services more accessible to people on the western side of New Providence. Specialist consultations, colonoscopy and other services are available.

"This collaboration brings significant benefits to patients," said Dr. Graham Cates, medical practitioner and founder of Family Medicine Center...

Health
Over 60 private physicians apply for NHI Bahamas during round one of Primary Care Provider registration - Apr 6, 2017 - 12:09:29 PM

Following round one of Primary Care Provider registration, which closed on March 31st, over 60 physicians in the private sector have applied with NHI Bahamas and are looking forward to providing Primary Care services to Bahamians. These numbers will be further augmented by Primary Care Providers in the public sector, across the country, from the Department of Public Health and Public Hospitals Authority.

Providers signed up include general practitioners, family doctors, internists, OBGYNs and pediatricians. While this cohort will be among the first group of doctors Bahamians will be able to select when Enrolment starts, registration of Primary Care Providers will remain open as more providers from across the country continue to sign up for NHI Bahamas. Phase two of NHI Bahamas...

News : Bahamas Information Services Updates
National Household Drug Survey Underway - Feb 24, 2017 - 12:59:29 PM

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with other government agencies, is currently dispatching a team of persons into various communities throughout The Bahamas to conduct a national household drug survey during the months of February and March 2017.

The purpose of the survey is to determine the extent of drug use among persons 12 to 65-years-old in the population.

Current patterns have been studied among the adolescent population through school drug surveys conducted in the past decade. However, present trends in the general population are not known...

News : New Providence
Princess Margaret Hospital’s Eye Care Clinic Relocates - Jan 20, 2017 - 2:48:53 PM

Effective Monday January 23rd, 2017, the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Eye Care Clinic will be open to the public at its new location at #26 Soldier Road.  The seven thousand six hundred fifty (7650) square foot complex formerly occupied by Eye World (adjacent to Lowe’s Pharmacy) was acquired by The Public Hospitals Authority on January 10th through a five (5) year lease agreement.

The Eye Care Clinic offers general and specialist ophthalmology services inclusive of visual field testing, general eye exams, retinal care and surgery, cataract care and surgery, glaucoma care and surgery, cornea care and surgery, refraction, and laser testing and surgery...

News : Bahamas Information Services Updates
IHIMS to Promote Greater Healthcare Efficiency / Effectiveness - Jan 20, 2017 - 12:06:32 PM

The implementation of an Integrated Health Information Management System (IHIMS) at the public healthcare level in The Bahamas, has the potential to “fundamentally change” the public healthcare system’s approach to service delivery and care.

Public healthcare officials said patients across the Commonwealth of The Bahamas will “directly benefit” from the implementation.

Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Michael Perry Gomez, said implementation of the IHIMS Program will allow for -- among other critical matters...

News : Bahamas Information Services Updates
Healthcare Partnership to Advance Bahamas Pediatric Research - Jan 8, 2017 - 2:24:43 PM

Officials of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), the Aidan Roger Carron Foundation and the Tribune Media Group have entered into a public/private partnership that is expected to catapult the local public healthcare sector into the stratosphere of medical research – particularly in the area of life threatening auto-immune diseases and protocols in infants and children.

Local healthcare officials are calling the agreement “monumental” adding that the partnership will not only provide local public healthcare officials – particularly doctors and nurses – with access to some of the world’s leading pediatric specialists and state-of-the-art equipment available at the Miami Children’s Hospital...

Health
Ministers of Health to discuss actions to improve health in the Region - Sep 24, 2016 - 10:08:42 PM


Washington, D.C.,  (PAHO/WHO)—The Ministers of Health of the Americas will meet next week at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) to agree on policies and actions aimed at tackling the main health challenges facing the Region of the Americas, and to set the priorities for PAHO’s technical cooperation with its member countries.

During the 55th Directing Council, held Sept. 26-30, health authorities of the Americas will discuss and seek agreement on strategies and plans of action to prevent arboviral diseases such as Zika, chikungunya, and dengue, and to eliminate malaria and neglected infectious diseases...

Health
Bahamas Sickle Cell Association Open for Online Registration - Sep 22, 2016 - 11:27:13 PM

For persons living with this sickle cell disease there is economic hardship. Insurance is non-existent or prohibitive due to the pre-existing nature of the disease. Portable oxygen machines are costly approx. $3,000 each. The medication for pain is also very scarce and costly, there is really one main medication (hydroxyurea) that is thought to be effective against crises. There are also painkillers that should be used however there can be a fear of addiction therefore it may not be widely available in pharmacies. We would like the support of the general public in helping us to achieve our goals and for you the media to assist us in getting the word out on our activities which will benefit persons living with SCD...

Community : Grand Bahama
Solomon’s Lucaya Sees Success With In Store Health Seminar - Sep 14, 2016 - 11:20:01 PM

Freeport, Bahamas — During the Solomon’s Lucaya’s Let’s Talk Health series held last month, local physician Dr. Monique Pratt answered one-on-one questions from participants in the free, in-store session.

Saturday shoppers took full advantage of the opportunity to chat about common health issues including hypertension, diabetes and obesity at the Ask The Doctor presentation. Dr. Pratt, a specialist in Internal Medicine & Nephrology, gave preventative tips attendees could incorporate into their daily lives. She advised on topics from dietary changes to the importance of having an open line of communication with primary physicians...

News : Bahamas Information Services Updates
Bahamas Ministry of Health: Zika Update #3 - Sep 2, 2016 - 4:04:40 PM

The Ministry of Health wishes to update the public that as of 30 th August, 2016 a total of eight (8) confirmed cases of Zika have been recorded on the island of New Providence. All of those cases were provided medical attention after presenting with symptoms suggestive of Zika virus infection. Based on the histories of the cases presenting, it has been determined that there is a mix of travel associated and local transmission.

The Ministry of Health and the Department of Public Health is intensely monitoring the situation with an active surveillance program, and providing medical care to affected persons...

Health
Jupiter Medical Center Offers Advanced Imaging - Jul 29, 2016 - 3:00:19 AM

An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward receiving effective medical treatment. Without that, how can doctors provide you with specialized, top-quality care? Jupiter Medical Center, one of the most highly regarded hospitals in South Florida, uses the most advanced imaging technologies available and skilled radiologists who specialize in every area of disease diagnosis to help detect, prevent and treat diseases.

Services include:

CT scanning; MRI; Ultrasound; PET; and Breast Imaging...

Health
Jupiter Medical Center – Health Care That’s Worth Going the Extra Mile - Jul 20, 2016 - 11:52:53 PM

The only feeling better than being at home, is feeling like you never left. Deciding where to get your medical care is one of the most important decisions you will make. Now you can choose world-class care and recovery in a setting that offers you all the comforts of home—and more—at Jupiter Medical Center, in the tropical destination of Palm Beach County, Florida. The center’s facilities combine a luxurious wellness experience with expert care in the renowned specialties of orthopedics and oncology. When it comes to these specialties, the hospital is at the forefront of innovation with its cutting-edge CyberKnife® M6™ radiation technology and advanced orthopedic procedures such as limb lengthening surgery.

Nothing about your stay at Jupiter Medical Center is a typical hospital visit. It’s a health getaway that offers a number of therapeutic massage and salon services, and integrative medicine options for you to pick from...

Health
Top-tier Orthopedic Program at Jupiter Medical Center - Jul 3, 2016 - 1:25:48 PM

Contemplating whether or not to travel for orthopedic surgery? Choose a medical center that provides world-class care while making you forget you ever left home. Regain your mobility in the tropical destination of Palm Beach County, Florida, surrounded by views of beautiful beaches, palm trees and golf courses. Jupiter Medical Center has a renowned orthopedics team that is highly specialized in joint replacement, revision, spinal procedures and limb lengthening. We are also recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as being in the top 2.2% of hospitals in the United States for quality outcomes related to elective hip and knee procedures...

Health
New Technology Targets Tumors in Five Days or Less - Jun 6, 2016 - 12:00:55 PM

It is the one word no one ever wants to hear their doctor say — cancer. The good news is that with proper interventions, a growing number of patients can now continue to live full lives following their initial diagnosis thanks in large part to the new medical technology and treatments now available.

In the past, having a cancerous tumor removed meant undergoing invasive surgery and recuperating in the hospital for days. Thankfully, as a radiation oncologist today, I have access to leading-edge technology that enables me to target and eliminate many types of tumors – especially those considered inoperable – without even making an incision...

Health
Cutting Out Sugar Can Improve a Child’s Health in Just 10 Days - Apr 28, 2016 - 5:05:54 PM

Nassau Doctor Says Cold-Like Symptoms Often the Result of Too Many Sweets, Not Allergies

It’s no surprise that too much sugar in a child’s diet can cause tooth decay, hyperactivity and increase the risk for obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, but what many parents may not realize is that sugar can also cause other chronic—and avoidable—health problems...

Health
BTVI holds successful health and wellness fair - Mar 19, 2016 - 8:43:46 AM

Nassau, Bahamas - Taking responsibility for one’s health choices was the aim of the 7th annual Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institution health and wellness fair held on March 17th at BTVI.  The Student Affairs department rolled health and fitness into one as exhibitors provided information, demonstrations and samples of their products and/or services.

BTVI’s Dean of Student Affairs, Racquel Bethel, said the team’s approach to wellness is a holistic one that first targets students, staff and faculty, but is also extends to the public.

Health
Processed Meat May Be Killing More Bahamians Than Crime - Mar 18, 2016 - 2:45:57 PM

Bahamas boasts the 10^th highest meat consumption rate per capita in the world

For hundreds of years Bahamians were fishers and farmers. Their faces shone with the kind of radiance that only comes from lungs filled with fresh air and hands and feet that touch the earth on a daily basis.

“Food is something that we were born into,” said Dr. Arlington Lightbourne, owner of the Nassau-based Wellness Clinic. “We were exposed to these things without having any say in the matter...”

Health
Scientists studying intensified vector control measures to combat Zika, dengue and chikungunya in the Americas - Mar 13, 2016 - 8:58:40 AM

(PAHO/WHO) – Control of mosquitoes that transmit Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses must be ramped up in the Americas, experts have urged after a three-day meeting at the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).

The new Technical Advisory Group on Public Health Entomology is looking at ways to strengthen vector control programs in the countries, including specific measures for Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever in the Americas...

Health
PAHO, laboratories set guidelines to identify, confirm Zika Virus - Feb 28, 2016 - 1:45:11 PM

Puerto Rico (PAHO/WHO) — The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Arbovirus Laboratory Network (RELDA) have agreed on new guidelines to improve lab confirmation of suspected Zika cases, even as more accurate tests are developed.

"With dengue and chikungunya circulating in the region, diagnosing Zika is a great challenge," said Maria Guadalupe Guzman, head of the Department of Virology of the Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kouri of Cuba and president of the lab network.  A new algorithm for lab detection of Zika virus will contribute to more accurate diagnosis and more efficient surveillance, she added.