As Barbados faces rising numbers of diabetic foot amputations, the nation’s health experts are mobilising to uncover the root causes that can provide valuable lessons for others. Yemisi Bokinni reports
For the past two decades Barbados has held the dubious nickname of “amputation capital of the world,” says Brian Payne, deputy nutrition officer at the Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness. The reason? A tide of diabetes.
A staggering 89% of diabetes related hospital admissions in Barbados involve foot complications.1 Amputations are largely attributed to poorly managed type 2 diabetes, with approximately 80% of cases stemming from diabetic foot ulcers.2 These often develop from diabetes related complications such as diabetic neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease, which contribute to the formation of leg ulcers and delayed wound healing. The gravity of this health crisis is underscored by the stark five year survival rates after amputation in the country: 28% for below k
Barbados, along with other Caribbean islands, is currently experiencing an outbreak of Dengue fever, with the number of suspected cases increasing on a daily basis according to a report from the Barbados Ministry of Health.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed a dengue fever outbreak in Barbados.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kenneth George, disclosed that the threshold was r.
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Climate Change is a global emergency, yet few countries have made plans to face it. Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness staff and allied sectors recently met at the Accra Beach Resort in Barbados, to understand how climate change is affecting public health in the country, a first step in the creation of a Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP).
The process to assess vulnerabilities and prioritize ways to manage or minimize the impacts of climate change in an area is called adaptation planning.