Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 20th 2021 (ZIZ News) The St. Kitts-Nevis chapter of the Caribbean Association of Medical Technologists (CASMET) will be joining its regional partners in celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.
During an interview for the Kare Nursing Agency health series on ZIZ TV Local Chairperson of CASMET, Jasmin Hanley gave a brief background of the association which helped to provide training for technologists within the medical field.
She added that CASMET now has training schools in islands such as Barbados, Bermuda, Belize and the countries in the Eastern Caribbean.
Hanley said in the past, activities to commemorate the week included a church service and health walks.
The Medical Laboratory Professionals Week will be celebrated this year from April 18th to 25th, because of the ongoing pandemic activities to commemorate the week have been scaled down.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 20th 2021 (ZIZ News) Knowing the status of one’s sexual life and that of your partner’s is important.
That was expressed by Dr. Jasmin Hanley, Managing Director at Quality Diagnostic Laboratory during a recent interview, as April is being observed as Sexually Transmitted Diseases month.
She said due to medicinal and technological advances, many diseases can be detected in a short space of time.
Hanley encouraged persons to get regular checkups and to not become complacent.
Hanley also urged women to get annual pap smears done to reduce incidents of Cervical cancer, which is caused by the Humpan Papilloma Virus (HPV).
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 03, 2021 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, sought to allay concerns about the time frame of the development of the COVID-19 vaccines, which has caused some hesitancy among individuals in getting the jab.
At the March 31, 2021, National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Briefing, Dr. Laws explained that efforts to develop a vaccine started many years ago.
“In 2003, if you recall, we had the SARS Outbreak in Eastern countries and then in 2012, we experienced the MERS Outbreak. Now the SARS and the MERS were all caused by coronaviruses and so the scientists started working with the coronaviruses way back then in an effort to develop an appropriate vaccine against this family of viruses,” the chief medical officer explained.
She said that the SARS CoV-2 virus, which was commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus back then, was isolated, decoded and the genetic information shared with scientists in January 2020 in an effort to develop a suitable vaccine.
The development of highly sophisticated technology, which did not exist decades ago, also improved the development and production of vaccines.
Medical Chief of Staff of the Joseph N. France General Hospital, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, also shared that the global outbreak fuelled greater investment in finding a vaccine.
“There are a number of first world countries that put millions or billions of dollars upfront to the drug companies so that they can help in the development of these vaccines,” he stated.
Persons also willingly stepped forward to be a part of clinical trials for the vaccine given the devastating impact of COVID-19 on populations in the United States, Europe, United Kingdom and other countries.
“These vaccines, they were tested in thousands of persons, more than any other vaccine in the past,” Dr. Wilkinson indicated. “… For all of those reasons, we know that the vaccine is safe so that is one of the reasons why I didn’t hesitate to roll up my sleeve and take the vaccine.”
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 23, 2021 (SKNIS): The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is proven safe and effective after a recently concluded study and subsequent report in the United States, said Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris during his monthly Press Conference on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Conference Room.
Prime Minister Harris made the statement in light of reports of blood clots in some persons who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there is no link between the vaccine shot and an increased risk of developing blood clots.
“AstraZeneca’s vaccine is very safe. About 500,000 doses of this vaccine were made available to the region,” said Prime Minister Harris.
Prime Minister Harris touched briefly on a study that was conducted recently indicating that the vaccine is safe and effective.
“Just yesterday, data was released from a long-awaited USA-based safety study of the AstraZeneca Vaccine. The study confirmed that there is no evidence of increased risk of thromboembolic (blood clotting) events or rare blood clots associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. This is helpful news,” he said. “Additionally, the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization, both have reported that the AstraZeneca vaccine is very safe and has been effective so far. Our own health experts have assured us that the vaccine is very safe. The vaccine that we are using has passed multilayered evaluation by expert panels before it was granted emergency use approval by the prestigious World Health Organization.”
Dr. Harris said that the early actions taken proved effective in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus), adding that the government will continue to work to ensure that such practice remains effective.
“Our early actions helped contain transmission of the virus and kept the people of St. Kitts and Nevis safe. We will continue to explore all avenues to secure additional vaccines through the COVAX Facility and through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. Our Ministry of Health continues to provide guidance on the procurement of vaccines,” he said.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 19, 2021 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that the Government of Romania is inviting applications to fill scholarships to study at universities in the State of Romania. These scholarships are opened to citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels.
The language of instruction for Bachelor’s and Master’s levels is Romanian, for which the Government of Romania will include in the scholarship, one (1) year of study. Doctoral programme students will have the option to study in a foreign language.
The scholarship will provide for payment of tuition fees, in-dorm accommodation expenses, monthly financial aid of 65 EURO for Bachelor’s students, 75 EURO for Master’s students and 85 EURO for Doctoral programme students. Please note that this scholarships programme will not cover the cost of airfare to and from Romania and the cost of ground transportation to and from the university. This programme also does not award scholarships in the fields of Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacology.
For the list of accredited higher education institutions in Romania, interested persons should visit https://www.edu.ro/institutii-invatamant-superior and for general guidelines on documents and other elements required for application, email Havana.cons@mae.ro.
The deadline for submission of applications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set for Thursday, 8th April 2021.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, January 14, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris says his Government has approved the formation of the board that will have responsibility for the policy, strategic direction, and governance of the Medicinal Cannabis Authority.
The Medicinal Cannabis Authority, established under the Cannabis Bill, 2020, will provide for the lawful access to medicinal cannabis as an alternative treatment for persons who are suffering from a qualifying medical condition and to provide for a comprehensive licensing scheme to regulate the cultivation, supply, possession, production and use of medicinal cannabis.
Speaking at his press conference earlier today, Thursday, January 14, at the NEMA Conference Room, Prime Minister Harris noted that the composition of the Board is actively being pursued.
“In performing its functions, the Board shall monitor the administrative operations of the Authority; submit recommendations to the Cabinet in relation to the issuing of licenses and other authorizations; advise the minister on matters of general policy relating to the management and development of an efficient and regulated medicinal cannabis industry; ensure that the Authority receives and manages its funds in a prudent manner; and do all such things as the Board reasonably considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of carrying out its functions under this Act,” Prime Minister Harris said.
The Board is expected to consist of representatives from various Government ministries as well as members of civil society.
Thursday’s announcement by Prime Minister Harris represents yet another major step by the Team Unity administration towards the creation of a viable and well-managed cannabis industry in St. Kitts and Nevis.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 03, 2020) — Two hundred and six Nevisians continue receiving care from the Nevis Eye Care Programme at the Alexandra Hospital, through a Telemedicine Clinic which was introduced to ensure that patients got essential eye care in spite of the travel challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hon. Mark. Brantley, Premier of Nevis who is also the Minister of Health, made the disclosure at his recent monthly press conference which was held in Cabinet Room at Pinney’s Estate.
“The eye care programme in Nevis is now world renowned. Doctors come here, specialists come here twice a year normally to deliver state-of-the-art eye care to the people of Nevis and the wider Federation because many from St. Kitts are now accessing eye care in Nevis.
“Sadly, they were unable to travel this year to come to us but they were able to deliver, through telemedicine care, to some 206 persons, and those 206 persons were checked, their vision, interocular pressure and they performed something they called optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan. Results were sent to the team in the United States via a secure platform that could only be accessed by the doctors there and the nurses, and assessments were made and care was provided. So even though they couldn’t travel we were still able to provide care for some 206 persons,” he said.
Nurse Jenevie Daniel, a retired nurse who has been with the eye care programme since its inception in 1996, in an invited comment on November 02, 2020, described the new clinic as a success one.
“During the former physical bi-annual eye clinics, patients from St. Kitts were also attending. The Telemedicine Clinic covered a total of 206 patients who were all Nevisians.
“To date, the programme is going quite well considering that it’s a pilot project. It was readily accepted by the patients. However, the most challenging aspect was the technology. Success was achieved by communication with Dr. Hubbe and through strong team work. I could not ask for a better team of nurses,” she said.
Nurse Daniel who has been recalled to assist in the eye care programme, at one point in her career headed the eye care clinic. She explained that Dr. Raymond Hubbe, the ophthalmologist in charge of the Nevis Eye Care Programme, brought up the idea of the Eye Care Telemedicine Services, following which Zoom meetings ensued.
The stakeholders who attended included Dr. Judy Nisbett, Medical Officer of Health; Mrs. Eren Hanley, Health Services Administrator; Ms. Ermine Jeffers, Coordinator of Community Nursing Services; and Eye Care Clinic nursing staff.
“The discussions involved the programme, and the programme was to facilitate some patients who were scheduled for the April/May 2020 session, and these patients had to fit the criteria that was specified by Dr. Hubbe.
“Information on past and current visits as well as images of previous OCT scans were inclusive for patients’ data. How to handle information going back and forth which involved the IT team was also discussed. Provision of consent forms and this gave the nurses the permission to send the patient’s medical records via e-services to the ophthalmologists in the US,” Nurse Daniel explained while addressing the some of the steps taken to execute the clinic.
“We had to prepare for the clinical sessions, so in preparation for this the names, the addresses and telephone numbers were selected for those patients who were to be seen during the designated period. Each patient was called, the telemedicine procedure was explained and then given a date and time to attend. The assessment of patients started on August 31, 2020, and spanned a three-week period,” she added.
The nursing staff, made up of nurses Lenore Pemberton, Donna Hill, and Daniel, conducted the examinations and collected the necessary information to send off island via the internet for diagnosis and the course of treatment.
“Based on clinical findings and the interpretation of the OCT scans, patients with priority needs were among the first batch to be sent to Dr. Hubbe and his team of specialists.
“After the online files of patients who were assessed by the doctors, reports and prescriptions for follow-up medications were returned to the nurses. Each patient was contacted via the telephone. His/her report was discussed and then asked to collect his prescription at the eye clinic. The programme is currently into this phase, that is reporting to patients and picking up prescriptions,” she said.
The Nevis Eye Care Program (NECP) is a program of Vision for All Inc., a non-profit public health organization dedicated to preventing blindness and restoring sight to underserved populations worldwide. The Nevis Eye Care Program works in partnership with the Ministry of Health and especially with the Nevis Public Health Nurses.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 19th , 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
Minister of Health, ICT, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship and Talent, Hon. Akilah Byron-Nisbett, officially opened Pharmacy Week 2020 with an address to the nation on Monday.
The Health Minister said she felt pleased to offer remarks in solidarity of the federation’s Pharmacy Association as they celebrate Pharmacy Week with a host of activities which run from October 18-24.
During her message, the Minister applauded all pharmacists for their role in the functioning of St. Kitts and Nevis’ health sector.
“At this celebratory period, the Ministry of Health wishes to applaud all practicing and retired pharmacists and technicians for their enormous contribution to the healthcare sector”.
Minister Byron Nisbett went on to highlight the importance of pharmacists and technicians, noting that the nation is increasingly becoming more reliant on their services during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“The discipline of Pharmacy is very wide and covers manufacturing, research and dispensing. Thus pharmacist and pharmacy technicians are vital to the effective management of any pharmacy establishment and healthcare system. In fact, at this critical juncture of the pandemic, the Ministry of Health is increasingly reliant on its pharmacist to ensure that adequate essential medications are available and that citizens are properly educated regarding medication administration and management”, she explained.
She said the Ministry is also grateful for the federation’s Pharmacy Association’s commitment to ensuring patients safety and encouraged all to participate in this week’s activities.
“In the current context of COVID-19, in many clinical and manufacturing settings, research pharmacists are assisting in developing treatment algorithms and new vaccines in the fight against the spread of the disease. The Ministry of Health is therefore deeply grateful and immensely appreciative of the invaluable role and functions of Pharmacists and their resiliency relative to patient safety. That being so I encourage all citizens of the Federation to support the association in this week of activities”
The Pharmacy Week 2020 activities began with a special worship service at the Antioch Baptist Church on Sunday, a lecture discussion on the topic, “Pain Management: Where are We and Where Should We Be?” on Monday. The activities will continue with a lecture discussion on the importance of combined therapy in cancer treatment, a panel discussion on the topic,“Pharmacy Beyond the Dispensing Counter” on Friday and a Fun Day on Saturday.
The Minister of Health advised that we must remember the tireless efforts of the St. Kitts and Nevis Pharmacy Association to keep the people “healthy and safe in a kind and caring way”
Pharmacy Week 2020 is being observed under the theme, “Pharmacy for a Better Tomorrow”.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, September 28, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – On Sunday, September 27, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris told nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis who reside in the diaspora that regardless of where they live now, they too can still play an important role in the development of their homeland.
Prime Minister Harris was at the time speaking during a historic St. Kitts and Nevis Diaspora Virtual Forum, which also featured participation from Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Shawn Richards and Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Mark Brantley. The forum was organized by the St. Kitts and Nevis Tri-State Association, in collaboration with the Diaspora Unit.
Prime Minister Harris indicated that in recent times, many Kittitians and Nevisians would have benefited from remittances from nationals in the diaspora. He added, “As we look to build that springboard for the next chapter of our development and advancement, we call on you, and invite you to remit your expertise, talents, knowledge and networks to assist our continuing efforts to improve St. Kitts and Nevis on every development indicator.”
The prime minister also lauded persons in the diaspora who have achieved and excelled in many different sectors, including artistry, international business, technology, medicine, scholastic and scientific research, politics and diplomacy.
“We have citizens holding senior and important positions and posts in multinational corporations, foreign governments, international bodies, universities, and even the entertainment capital of the world – Hollywood. We will count on your support and advice as we develop our country. It is exactly these expertise, talents and world experiences that we would wish to harness. In so doing, we hope to solidify our position as one of the best places to live, the best run, and best managed small island state anywhere in the world,” said Dr. Harris.
Prime Minister Harris singled out several outstanding nationals in the Diaspora who continue to contribute their ideas and talents to nation-building. These include His Excellency Dr. Everson W. Hull, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), who is helping to develop policies and programmes for pay for performance in St. Kitts and Nevis; Dr. Frank Laws who has been helping with the development of an App to be used in the fight against COVID-19 and enhance our contact tracing capability. He is also assisting in the build out of a state-of-the-art Cardiac Unit at the JNF Hospital; Dr. Wycliffe Baird in Canada for work on policies relating to the establishment of a Cannabis Industry; and prayer warriors like Nurse Sylvia Garnette.
“The truth is, no country can ever reach its full potential without the participation of each and every person in our society and economy. We invite our citizens abroad to make their continuing contributions to the onerous task of nation building of our beloved country – St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister Harris.
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