BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados Saturday confirmed its first case of the Monkeypox virus with officials indicating that the island is fully prepared to handle any cases of the virus that has already been detected in two other CARICOM countries, namely Jamaica and the Bahamas.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) is expressing some level of concern regarding the moves by the government to employ temporary healthcare workers from the diaspora to address staff shortages.

ROSEAU, Dominica – Dominica is exp0loring the possibility of removing the mandatory wearing of mask to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed 68 people and infected 14, 852 since the first case was detected in March 2020.

GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) say that the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the largest continued backslide in vaccinations in three decades.

BELMOPAN, Belize – Less than 24 hours after St. Lucia confirmed the Omicron BA.5 subvariant of the coronavirus had been detected on the island, Belize has become the next CARICOM country to confirm the presence of the subvariant.

WASHINGTON, DC – As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the Americas, with new infections increasing by 13.9 percent from last week, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne on Wednesday called for countries to prepare their health systems to address the long-term impact of post-COVID condition, commonly known as long COVID, which may impact many in the region.

WASHINGTON, DC – The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Dr. Carissa Etienne Wednesday warned that as the Omicron sub-lineages drive a new wave of COVID-19 infections and cases of the Monkeypox virus continue to rise, countries should work together to meet the growing demand for vaccines, medicines, and other health equipment in the region.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, Wednesday confirmed that Jamaica had recorded its first case of the monkeypox virus.

NASSAU, Bahamas –The Bahamas government has confirmed that health authorities are investigating a second suspected case of Monkeypox.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago has accused developed countries of hoarding “stockpiling” vaccines to treat the Monkeypox virus, saying that the action is reminiscent of the situation that existed with the procurement of  COVID-19 vaccines.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries and health professionals including those in the Caribbean  to step up the fight against syphilis and congenital syphilis, though preventable and curable, but affects thousands of people each year.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Wednesday committed US$750,000 to support programs of the region’s public health agency over the next 18 months.