In the first of its kind in the region, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Dominica, in conjunction with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is embarking on a five-day mission to instill among health workers the critical role that they play in achieving universal health coverage and universal access to health, and to ensure access to pharmaceutical products and services by having a robust pharmaceutical supply chain system. Access to medicines is a core element of any pharmaceutical policy and one of the main priorities of public health policy. Access to essential medicines and other health technologies, including vaccines and biological, is ensured through the development of an organized system that integrates the selection, financing, forecasting/demand estimation, procurement, storage and distribution, and rational use of pharmaceuticals in accordance with the needs of the population. The mission will be guided by Pablo Alcocer Vera, Regional Advisor, Systems of Supply, PAHO/WHO; Dr Vishwanath Andy Partapsingh, Advisor, Health Systems and Services, PAHO/WHO Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries; Gabriel Cunha, International Consultant, Supply Chain Management Regional Revolving Funds (RRF); Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Hon. Kent Edwards, a trained pharmacist with over 26 years of experience; PAHO Country Program Specialist, Dr. Nicole Slack-Liburd; and Supplies Manager, Ms. Aliyah James-Shillingford as well as other senior staff of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services. During the opening ceremony for the mission, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Hon Dr Cassandra Williams, reinforced the commitment of the Government of Dominica in ensuring accessibility of pharmaceuticals for all Dominicans. “In an effort to ensure the optimal health and wellness of the population of Dominica, this government is committed to ensuring that there is a robust Supply Chain Management System that guarantees adequate procurement, distribution, and financing of pharmaceuticals are maintained,” she indicated. Dr Williams noted that the Government has allocated $81.9 million-dollar recurrent expenditure and 7.5 million capital budget for health in 2024-2025 and cited the development of a better system to manage the procurement and distribution of medical supplies as one strategy to improve patient outcomes. “As we work to further strengthen our commitment of Partnering to build the platform for sustainable growth and development, which was the theme of this year’s budget presentation, we are pleased to continue our longstanding partnership with PAHO in this week’s initiative, which has been preceded by several fact finding and planning sessions commencing in February 2024. This week’s agenda includes the implementation of self-assessment tools, focus groups and site visits to hospitals and health centres, which will examine several aspects of SCM such as financing, procurement, information systems and legislative frameworks.” Universal access to essential medicines has increasingly been seen as a fundamental human right over the years. Therefore, strengthening the management of the pharmaceutical supply chain system in the country to ensure access to safe, quality and essential medicines and other health technologies is aligned with the right to health concept. During the mission, there will be meetings with health policy and health financing stakeholders; discussions will be held with procurement personnel, Information Technology Department responsible of the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) and other health technologies, and other staff of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services and Dominica Hospitals Authority. Site visits will be conducted at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital to include Central Medical Stores, National Laboratory, Pharmacy, as well as Marigot Hospital, district health centers, and the Roseau Seaport, among others. At the end of the mission, the PAHO delegates will provide an overview of an efficient and integrated supply chain management (SCM) system of medicines and other health technologies elements from the governance, regulatory framework, financial aspects, quality assurance, selection of essential medicines list, the demand estimation, the procurement, the inventory management, the distribution and the rational use; identify technical cooperation areas to strengthen supply chain management (SCM) system in front of WHO GSDP/MQAS standards; and present the PAHO Revolving Funds as a technical cooperation mechanism for pooled procurement. -END-

This summer, the Dominica State College hosted its inaugural summer camp based on the four pillars, agriculture, culture, tourism and science. The camp was titled A.C.T.S based on these four pillars. The summer camp came to a close on Friday August 9th with the participants of the camp being highlighted for their various achievements during the camp period, as well as the campers displaying what they had created during their time at the college’s camp. Featured speaker Mrs. Coraley Thomas, highlighted the importance of the participation the students had at the camp, and the activities that they engaged in, as well as the learning which was achieved during the camp. She focused on the importance of healthy eating and nutrition, which was one of her sessions that she facilitated during the camp as a Nutritionist.  There were several other facilitators for the camp, and they were all recognized at the closing ceremony. A few notable facilitators were Hon. Lakeiya Joseph, and Mrs. Coraley Thomas for Agriculture. Mrs. Delia Cuffy Weekes, Derrick Rah Peters, Tasha Peltier & the Cultural Division and Espeweyans Kweyol (DBS) with Kaywana Fontaine Wilson and Jermasha Mellow for Culture. Julian Benjamin, Kerwaine Lloyd and Marissa Sabaroche-Jules for Tourism. And Jeanelle Brisbane, Veronne Nicholas and Malisa Richards for Science. The children had a very interesting and memorable experience this summer at the DSC enhancing their skills in each of these areas.  Some of the activities included Vegetable planting, Belle’ Dancing and Drumming, Workshops and experiments, not excluding the much-anticipated Friday field trips. During the closing ceremony, campers were allowed to give their reflections on the camp experience, and Omar Grell showcased what he had learned at the camp during this period. The sponsors and various partners of the camp, including JCI Dominica were allrecognized at the closing ceremony. Of notable mention were Mr. Walter Greenaway, who was recognized for his contribution in gaining sponsorship for the camp, and Mr. Narrin Murphy who was recognized for his promotional effort of the camp. The DSC’s staff and the A.C.T.S Summer Camp Organizing committee were also recognized for their involvement and work. Officer in Charge, Miss Trudy Christian says “The Dominica State College hopes to continue putting on the A.C.T.S Summer Camp in the summers to come as it was felt to have been a great success this summer. 33 students participated in the camp from ages 6-15, and we really anticipate much more buy-in and much more engagements in the summers to come as we continue to build on the four developmental pillars which are very important – Agriculture, Culture, Tourism, and Science.”

Dominica’s educators, one of the driving forces behind the nation’s future, are set to receive due recognition with the launch of the inaugural Elevated Educator Awards; this October. This prestigious event, a collaboration between Kairi FM, Elevate and Lovelee Things will honour teachers who have gone above and beyond in shaping their students, schools, and communities. Nominations are now open for educators who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and impact during the 2023-2024 school year. Whether it’s a teacher who has ignited a passion for learning or a staff member who has made a profound difference, this event will celebrate those who have truly transformed the lives of students across the nation in one way or another. Leandra Lander, host of Kairi FM’s “Elevate” and proprietor of Lovelee Things, is the visionary behind this initiative. As an educator herself, Lander recognised the need to honour the commitment and hard work of her peers, leading to the creation of the Elevated Educator Awards. “Our teachers are the backbone of society,” Lander stated, “and it’s time we celebrate their invaluable contributions.” Nominations are open to the public and schools, and submissions are being accepted until September 6, 2024. Educators with a minimum of two years of teaching experience are eligible, and there is also a special category for outstanding ancillary staff. This ensures that those who support the educational environment behind the scenes are also recognized. The awards ceremony will take place on October 3, 2024, and will celebrate excellence across several categories, including Male and Female Primary School Educator, Male and Female Secondary School Educator, and Ancillary Staff. Lander expressed deep gratitude to the sponsors who have already come forward to support this initiative, including Kairi FM, HHV Whitchurch & Company Limited, UWI Global Campus, Media Linx, Fine Foods Inc., Vees Shipping, Jay’s Face, HBOC Lab, Fort Young Hotel, Grazed By Asch, Elis Decor, Fruits and Flowers and EmoNews. She also encouraged others who value the importance of education to contribute, saying, “This is an opportunity for us to give back to those who invest so much in our children and our society.”

The management of the Dominica China Friendship Hospital has recorded several incidences of vandalism on the premises of the hospital and is deeply concerned about this dangerous trend. Over the past several months, the hospital has encountered numerous challenges due to the destruction of hospital property, including safety and emergency equipment. The emergency telephones in the elevators have been maliciously destroyed, in some cases completely ripped from the elevator walls. “These phones have been destroyed on several occasions. They are essential for allowing individuals to alert someone outside in the event of an elevator malfunction or emergency,” informed the Manager of Safety and Security, Mr. Oliver Frederick. Cameras on the compound, particularly those inside of the elevators, have been tampered with. Frederick laments that this act can compromise the welfare and security of anyone on the premises. The most recent incidence of vandalism involved the defacing of the Dominica China Friendship Hospital signs, which were installed at the main entrance to the facility. “Such acts have no place in a facility specifically designed to provide essential care and attention to loved ones in a safe environment. Therefore, the Management and Staff of the Dominica Hospitals Authority kindly solicit the full cooperation of the general public in showing due respect to the equipment within the facility,” continued Mr Frederick. According to the Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Nancy Francis, it is vital that the public understands the importance of signage and emergency response tools and equipment at the hospital. “The name of the hospital is prominently affixed so that the general public, emergency responders and visitors can easily identify the hospital. We should not put anyone in a position to guess where the hospital is located because someone decided to maliciously destroy the signage. It is also very important for the public to respect the property of the State and to cease and desist from defacing and destroying emergency response tools, equipment and apparatus that are placed at strategic locations at the hospital,” Ms. Francis explained. The CEO noted that when such acts occur, funds that were earmarked for other critical hospital operations have to be reallocated to fix the problem. “Everyone should take personal responsibility for the upkeep and overall aesthetics of the hospital. It takes one person to destroy the hard work and effort that are placed in maintaining this beautiful facility. Therefore, I caution the perpetrators of this vicious act, that it will not be tolerated. We urge the general public to take personal responsibility and ownership of the hospital as it is there to serve all of us,” she pleaded. The hospital management has also reported that on many occasions, visitors and patients have destroyed other items such as doors, toilet seats, toilet paper holders, lockers and even stolen flash drives from the informational monitors. The hospital assures that the Safety and Security Department is working very closely with the Police to investigate these incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice. Anyone with information relating to acts of vandalism at the hospital can contact the Security Department at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital at 266-2135 or the nearest police station. Miss Nancy Francis- CEO DCFH Manager of Security & Safety DCFH- Oliver Frederick

Project Discovery has announced that the 12th annual conference, the Caribbean Youth Forum on Environment and Development (CARYFED), is currently taking place in the Commonwealth of Dominica from August 7, 2024, to August 17, 2024 , as an integral part of the Project Discovery program. The chosen venue for this year's event will be the Portsmouth Secondary School.    Project  Discovery Inc will also be  officially launching Project discovery Dominica  today August 7th 2024  This event is poised to showcase our youth both locally and regionally. Participants for this event have been invited from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and our gracious host country, Dominica. The central theme of CARYFED 2024 will revolve around " Sustainable Eco Tourism in the Caribbean. "   The event will serve as a platform for meaningful discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaborative initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable practices in ecotourism across the Caribbean region. Participants can expect engaging sessions, insightful dialogues, and opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals who share a commitment to environmental preservation and responsible development.   Activities for the event include :   Tours: Participants will take part in six tours. The tours include 1.North/North East torus: Cabrits National Park, Cana Village, Cold Soufriere, Bwa Nef falls, Red Rock and Chocolate factory 2. Valley Tour: Freshwater Lake, Boeri Lake, Middleham Falls, Hot Springs 3. Kalinago Territory Tour: L’escalier Tete Chien and Barana Aute, Engagement with Carib Chief, presentation by Karifuna 4. Southern /City Tour:  Scottshead, Morne Bruce, Botanical Gardens  participants will have the opportunity to  shop for souvenirs 5. Horseback Riding and farm tour 6. Hike : Waitubukbuli Trail Segment 5   Seminar and lecture sessions   Participants will be expected to attend five sessions to focus on the theme: Sustainable Eco Tourism  in the Caribbean The topics for the sessions are: ● Ecotourism and Technology: ● Indigenous ecotourism and cultural preservations ● Eco Tourism and Climate Change ● Case Studies and Sustainable Ecotourism ● Basic Research methods

National record holder in the Men's 800 meters Dennick Luke set a new National record but his dreams of making it to the semi finals of the Men's 800 meter event at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games were dashed as he came up short in his attempt to qualify this morning. Luke ran a time of 1 minute 47.54 seconds in heat number 4 on Wednesday, the time was just a shave of his personal best but not quick enough to get him into the top 3 automatic qualification spots. Luke got a second bite at the cherry, participating in the Repechage on Thursday. Luke started the race strong and was with the pack after the first 400 meters, he held his own until the leaders pulled away in the later stages of the race to finish in a time of 1 minute 46.81 seconds. The time of 1 minute 46.81 seconds represents a New National Record and personal best for Dennick Luke. He finished the race in 6th place, the race was won by HAINGURA Kethobogile of Botswana in a time of 1 minute 45.52 seconds. Credit G Richards

A landmark project begun in June 2024, The Original Roseau City Bus Stop Map will help make Dominica’s buses more accessible for locals and visitors alike. Born to Dominican parents and raised in New York City , Fifty-One Books founder Rashida Serrant-Davis recalled the maps for the city’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bus and train systems. She conceptualized and designed the Roseau City map with the MTA Transit maps in mind. The team is rounded out by Project Assistant Kytel Daniel and Graphic Designer Ayomidimeji. The map will also be printed in her recently published book, Greater Than a Tourist Dominica: 50 Travel Tips from a Local. This project serves persons visiting Dominica as well as people who live here. Those who travel by bus regularly will find it particularly helpful. The map consists of the latest bus stop locations, destinations served, landmarks, bank and credit union ATMs and free Wi-Fi hotspot locations across the City of Roseau. Mrs. Davis gives God all the glory for His inspiration in this groundbreaking endeavor. So far more than 15 Dominican business owners have gotten on board. The project welcomes local micro and small businesses and hopes to bring medium scale businesses and organizations into the mix. “I’m enjoying the process of meeting business owners and hearing their stories and goals,” said the project’s founder. “We welcome businesses from all sectors to get some new visibility for themselves.” The Discover Dominica Authority website’s Island Transportation page says “Dominica has a reliable public transportation system consisting of primarily private minibus operators. Bus stops can be found at designated points throughout the city depending on your destination.” That said, the project also appeals to bus drivers or Bus Driver Associations (BDAs). “The buses are a vital part of the nation’s economy. The nation is well mapped out with bus service for the most part. It’s time for the bus drivers to take in front - some tourists and diaspora like seeing Dominica by bus,” Mrs. Davis remarked. “You notice the backpackers coming and they don’t want to take a taxi, they just want to explore,” remarked Vanessa Bruno on a recent discussion with Mrs. Davis. Rashida appeared on Kairi FM’s Kairi Connections radio show. “...that is a fun way of getting to know a place…” Vanessa continued. “We trust that the project will be put to great use [by the people of the nation when it is] done,” said Project Assistant Kytel Daniel. Annual publication gives the map flexibility to update and accommodate new partners, and a digital version of the map will be available at dominicabybus.com. Mrs. Davis called upon her skills as a tech enthusiast and Computer Science educator to build the webpage herself. This is just one of a collection of skills she will advise small business owners to learn in her upcoming September 2024 Global Empowerment Services Webinar: 5 Tech Skills You Lack that Could Revolutionize Your Business. With a plan of 5000 maps being printed locally, the project expects to be ready to distribute with its web version fully launched in time for the 2024 Independence Season.

The Government of Dominica extends its warmest congratulations to Thea Lafond-Gadson for her outstanding achievement in winning the gold medal in the Women’s Triple Jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics, setting a National Record of 15.02 meters. This historic victory, Dominica’s first Olympic medal, is a source of great pride and inspiration for our nation. Thea Lafond-Gadson’s remarkable accomplishment is a testament to her years of hard work, talent, and determination. We commend her for her unwavering dedication, perseverance, and relentless pursuit of excellence, which have propelled her to the highest level of success on the global stage. Her victory in Paris exemplifies the strength and resilient spirit of the Dominican people and we look forward to welcoming her home in a triumphant display of national pride and celebration. We also extend our congratulations to her team, coach, and the members of the Dominica Olympic Committee, whose support and guidance have played a crucial role in her achievements. The Ministry of Culture, Youth, Sports, and Community Development and the Government of Dominica, continue to wish Thea Lafond-Gadson ongoing success in her extraordinary career. -Ends-

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Social Services advises the public to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families, given the recent increase in respiratory illness. Recommended measures include thorough hand washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable; practicing proper respiratory hygiene; regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces; and wearing a mask in crowded or enclosed spaces, especially if feeling unwell or in close contact with someone displaying symptoms of respiratory illness. The public is reminded that COVID-19 symptoms often resemble those of the flu or other respiratory illnesses, including fever, runny nose, cough, and sore throat. If flu symptoms persist or worsen, particularly if you experience severe symptoms like shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, please visit your nearest healthcare facility. To protect vulnerable individuals, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Social Services also announces that starting Friday, August 2nd, 2024, only one family member at a time will be allowed to visit patients at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital. Additionally, masks must be worn at all times during visits.

A Personal best and New National Record for National Swimmer Jasmine Schofield at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. Schofield swam a personal best 29.91 seconds in the women's 50-meter freestyle to finish in 3rd place in her meet this morning. Her previous personal best was 30.26 seconds. Jasmine is the first female Swimmer to represent Dominica since 2000, when her mother Francilia Agar swam at the 2000 Sydney Games. Despite the new record, and good showing in her heat, her time was not fast enough to get her through to the next round of the competition.

The Dominica Diabetes Association held a successful Annual General Meeting on August 01st 2024, at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium Conference Room. President of the Dominica Diabetes Association, Dr. Alisha Honore-Felix, gave her remarks, providing a synopsis of the achievements and challenges of the past year 2023: Dr. Honore-Felix, thanked members for attending Thursday’s meeting and explained that DOMDA achieved many of its objectives over the past here - stating that DOMDA successfully conducted two self-management workshops in San Sauveur, GoodHope and Petite Soufriere, among others. According to the DOMDA President, the Association’s partnership with the Dominica Health And Education Initiative (DAHEI), the Rotary Club of Dominica and the American Students Association of the All Saints Medical School, in November 2023, saw a major health fair event in the community of Salybia. In her list of achievements for DOMDA, Dr. Alisha Honore-Felix announced that the District Nurse for Castle Bruce was able to register and complete the Association’s Diabetes Educators Course. The AGM was held under the  theme, “Building Pathways of Hope to an Empowered, Healthier You.” Featured Speaker: Former PAHO Country Program Specialist for Dominica, Mrs. Shirley Augustine, gave her featured address in line with the Association’s theme, “Building Pathways of Hope to an Empowered, Healthier You.” The Dominica Diabetes Association (DOMDA) held its Annual General Meeting on August 01st 2024, at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium Conference Room. She emphasized that “Living with Diabetes can be a very daunting journey, and Diabetes for some is seen as a death announcement, but today we want to look at how we can live with Diabetes and not look at it as a death announcement.” Mrs. Augustine laments why Dominicans do not live a lifestyle of prevention, rather than ‘Damage Control.’ She encourages healthcare Providers to practice more patient empowerment techniques - highlighting that Diabetes care should be perceived as self-care and self-sustaining. Mrs. Augustine advises healthcare professionals to embrace the use of technology in providing care to Diabetics in Dominica. Conclusion: The AGM ended with a closed session where the Association’s plans and initiatives aimed at improving diabetes care and education, were outlined. It is the hope of DOMDA to take a fresh and renewed approach to engage the public, its administration, and its public relations strategy.. Members and stakeholders were meaningfully engaged in discussions about advancing DOMDA’s mission. Sections 6,7 and 18 were suspended to allow the Association to appoint an interim executive consisting of nine members. At the closed meeting persons were nominated and the current members of the executive will appoint persons to the required positions based on skill set. The New Executive will be announced to the media in August of 2024.

National record holder and World Champion in the women’s triple jump Thea Lafond Gadson has powered her way into the finals of that event at the Paris Summer Olympic Games this week. The 2024 World Indoor Champion was among 12 ladies making it through to the finals which will take place on Saturday. Thea needed two jumps but got the qualification mark needed to advance. She fouled her very first attempt of the afternoon, but recovered on her second attempt to record a jump of 14.35 meters which was the minimum mark to automatically qualify for the finals. Thea will now compete in Saturday’s finals which will get underway on Saturday at 2;20pm Caribbean time. Thea who is the first Dominican to medal at the Commonwealth Games and the first Dominican to win gold at the World Championships is seeking to become Dominica’s first Olympic Medallist. She is the current national record holder at 15.01 meters. Meantime National swimmer Jasmine Schofield also takes to the pool on Saturday August 3rd for the Women’s 50-meter Freestyle. That event gets underway at 5am Caribbean Time on Saturday. 800-meter runner Dennick Luke runs in the men’s 800-meter event on August 7th. -END-