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World Bank provides US$15M additional financing for Eastern Caribbean health sector
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved US$15 million in additional financing for health sector projects in the Eastern Caribbean. The financing replenishes funds that were redirected from these projects to support the countries’ immediate emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The World Bank provided speedy financing to Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint…
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International Meteorological Agency warns of impact of Saharan dust on the Caribbean
The World Meteorological Office (WMO) Friday said the massive dust storm currently blanketing many parts of the Caribbean is posing a significant threat to regional health. It is also highlighting the importance of having effective warning systems in place. The storm arrived in the Eastern Caribbean from North Africa last week, affecting a wide area…
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Dengue cases in region top 1.6 million, highlighting need for mosquito control during COVID-19 pandemic
More than 1.6 million cases of dengue have been reported in the Americas in the first five months of 2020, drawing attention to the need to continue eliminating mosquito vectors of disease even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “While social distancing measures are in place, households should be encouraged to work together in…
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UNAIDS warns of possible HIV drug shortages within two months
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) warned yesterday that stocks of medication for HIV patients could run out in the next two months because of higher costs linked to lockdowns and the novel coronavirus-related border closures. UNAIDS, in a call to countries and manufacturers to take pre-emptive action now, said that both the…
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WHO hails COVID-19 steroid as ‘lifesaving scientific breakthrough’
The World Health Organization on Tuesday hailed as a “lifesaving scientific breakthrough” the British use of a basic steroid to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients, saving about a third of them. “This is great news and I congratulate the Government of the UK, the University of Oxford, and the many hospitals and patients in the…
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Second wave of coronavirus hits Florida, Texas, Arizona after reopenings
A second wave of coronavirus has struck some states weeks after reopening — with infection rates spiking in Florida, Texas and Arizona, according to a new report. “There is a new wave coming in parts of the country,” Eric Toner of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security told Bloomberg News. “It’s small and it’s…
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Antigua to benefit from EU’s €7M to strengthen climate resilient health systems
The European Union (EU), through the European Development Fund has signed a five-year €7 Million agreement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to enhance coordination and increase the climate resilience of health systems in the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) community to better prepare and respond to climate threats. This will be achieved through collaboration with…
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Antiguan Nurse serving the underprivileged in the fight against COVID-19 and beyond
This month, OECS YES In Action caught up with Julien David Kentish, a 21 year old philanthropist with a passion for health care and breaking the stigma surrounding male nurses in the Caribbean and globally! Tell us a little about yourself. I am a young philanthropist with a passion for healthcare, volunteering and service. I…
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Launch of e-Series on COVID-19 Economic Response
As the region faces unprecedented levels of unemployment, reduced revenues and loss of foreign direct investment due to the COVID-19 crisis, the United Nations Sub-Regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean has launched a strategic programme to support the immediate response, relief and recovery for Eastern Caribbean islands affected by the pandemic. As part…
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Antigua represented as OECS raise stakes at Historic 73rd World Health Assembly
CARICOM Chairman and the prime minister of Barbados Mia Mottley was one of the 14 Heads of Government who addressed the recently concluded 73rd World Health Assembly. The prime minister in her address on behalf of the Caribbean Community CARICOM recognized they could not fight COVID-19 but instead tried to delay its arrival in the…
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PAHO urges young people to help expose and resist tobacco industry deception
On this year’s World No Tobacco Day, May 31, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is calling on young people in the Americas to recognize, expose and resist the deceptive tactics used by the tobacco industry and its allies to recruit new, younger customers—at the eventual cost of millions of lives lost. “The tobacco industry…