World Breastfeeding Month
The Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services encourages residents and visitors alike of the Turks and Caicos Islands to join the World in celebrating and promoting breastfeeding during the month of August 2016.
World Breastfeeding Week/Month 2016, which began 1st of August, is dedicated to demonstrating how breastfeeding, among many other actions, can support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established in 2015, which aim to end poverty, protect the environment and ensure prosperity through improved policies and programmes. Several countries around the world have committed to achieving all 17 SDGs by 2030. The first three goals (1) no poverty, 2) zero hunger and 3) good health and well-being) can be partially achieved by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding within the first six (6) months of life or longer.
There are several reasons why mothers should breastfeed their children. Listed below are just a few of the major benefits of breastfeeding:
• Human milk 1) provides the ideal balance of nutrients for an infant's growth and development, 2) reduces the risk of infectious and chronic diseases, 3) protects mothers' and infants' health, and 4) reduces the risk of childhood obesity.
o Breastfeeding 6 months or longer compared to no or shorter breastfeeding is associated with a reduction of childhood leukemia of 19%
o Babies who are breastfed are 60 percent less likely to die from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) compared to those not breastfed. The effect is even greater for infants who are exclusively breastfed.
o Adults who were breastfed as children score 3.3 points higher on cognitive development indicators, which leads to more years of schooling.
o Longer breastfeeding reduces the risk of overweight/obesity by 13%, helping to fight chronic diseases caused by obesity. It also lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 35%.
o Women who breastfeed compared with women who don’t or who breastfeed less, have a 32% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a 26% lower risk of breast cancer and a 37% lower risk of ovarian cancer.
o Mother-child bonding is enhanced when mothers interact with their infants while breastfeeding. Longer breastfeeding is associated with more sensitive maternal responsiveness and the security that comes with attachment.
Breastfeeding has been established as a public health imperative by the international community. WHO and UNICEF encourages all countries to take the following actions:
1. Fully implement international guidelines through legislation, monitoring and enforcement to prevent the inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes, including infant formula, feeding bottles, nipples, follow-on milks and related products.
2. Institute workplace policies in support of breastfeeding. This action has shown to increase employee retention, performance, loyalty, productivity and morale.
3. Implement the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” in maternity facilities.
4. Improve access to skilled lactation counselling.
5. Strengthen links between health facilities and communities to support breastfeeding.
6. Create monitoring systems that track the progress of policies, programmes, and funds toward achieving both national and global breastfeeding targets.
The Ministry’s Primary Health Care Department and TCI Hospital supports exclusive breastfeeding of infants within the first 6 months of life or longer and have been working collaboratively to strengthen our breastfeeding initiatives. For the entire month of August, all Government Primary Health Care Clinics throughout the islands will be answering frequently asked questions and sharing information about breastfeeding during antenatal and well-baby clinics. We also encourage everyone to listen to our next Health Matters Programme on Radio Turks and Caicos which will be focused on the topic of breastfeeding.
For more information about breastfeeding and activities that will take place during this month, contact the Nutritionist, Mrs. Lakeisha Wilson, at 338-5470, or a Government Primary Health Care Clinic on your island.
Cable & Wireless Reports Preliminary Q1 2016/17 Results
Network Investments Drive Broadband Subscribers up 49,000 (8%) YoY
Successful Launch of our Exclusive Flow Sports Premier Channel
Mobile Subscriber Base Grew by 148,000 YOY
Delivering Against Columbus Synergy Plan
MIAMI, FL, August 5, 2016 -- Cable & Wireless Communications Limited ("CWC") is a leading telecommunications operator in substantially all of its consumer markets, which are predominantly located in the Caribbean and Latin America, providing entertainment, information and communication services to 3.7 million mobile, 0.4 million television, 0.6 million internet and 0.8 million telephony subscribers. In addition, CWC delivers B2B services across the region and provides wholesale services over its sub-sea and terrestrial networks that connect over 30 markets.
Operating and financial highlights*:
• Delivered 14,000 subscriber additions in Q1 2016/17, as compared to 4,000 adds in prior-year period
◦ 2,000 video additions driven by our DTH business in Panama
◦ 5,000 broadband internet and 6,000 telephony subscriber adds, supported by network investment
• Mobile data penetration up seven percentage points YoY to 53%
• Further strengthened our customer proposition through launch of Flow Sports Premier in July
◦ Providing HD sporting content exclusively to Flow customers with unrivaled Premier League coverage; only Flow customers can watch all 380 games a season, beginning in August
• Investing to drive future performance, including:
◦ Completed roll-out of unified Flow brand across region
◦ Activated LTE-Advanced network in Cayman providing peak throughput > 75Mbps
◦ Launched fixed bundles in Trinidad & Tobago
◦ Strengthened B2B portfolio with launch of cloud-based call center solution
◦ Deploying new advanced video platforms in Panama and the Bahamas
Subscriber Statistics
CWC delivered a solid Q1 2016/17 performance as the organic changes for all of our fixed and mobile product categories improved year-over-year. In our mobile business, which represents roughly 40% of our total revenue, the total base increased by 148,000 subscribers or 4% year-over-year to 3.7 million. This performance was led by a 21% increase in subscribers who purchased a data plan. Mobile data penetration now stands at 53% of our total mobile subscriber base, up 2 percentage points from 51% at March 31, 2016.
Turning to our fixed-line business, we added 14,000 subscribers during the quarter, with year-over-year improvements across all three products. We reported 5,000 broadband net additions in Q1 2016/17, as we increased penetration over our improved networks. On the video front, we added 2,000 subscribers in the quarter, driven by growth in Panama DTH, where we have seen strong demand for our prepaid TV product and our DTH subscriber base rose from 16,000 to 39,000 year-over-year. Offsetting this increase, video subscribers in the Caribbean declined as a result of increased competition and challenging economic environments, however we are working to mitigate these factors by re-vamping our product offering in these markets, including the July launch of our Flow Sports Premier channel. This premium channel will feature HD content and offer the very best in sporting content, exclusively to Flow's customers across the region. The highlight of Flow Sports Premier will be unrivaled coverage of the Premier League beginning in August 2016 – the world’s most popular football league – ensuring that only Flow’s customers can watch all 380 games a season.
Rounding out our fixed-line products, we added 6,000 telephony subscribers in the quarter, as we increased penetration of our VoIP-based services through bundling across our footprint. Triple-play penetration increased 170 basis points over the year to cover 8.6% of our subscribers at June 30, 2016, still leaving ample room for growth. Finally, during the last twelve months, we have expanded our network by roughly 35,000 homes and upgraded over 100,000 homes to two-way capability.
From a regional standpoint, the following highlights the trends in our largest markets:
• Panama mobile subscribers declined 1% in the quarter as continued competition through aggressive promotional activity adversely impacted our prepaid customer base. However, this was partly offset by higher-ARPU postpaid subscribers, which were up 2%, representing the eighth consecutive quarter of growth. Our prepaid DTH product, up 22% in the quarter, continued to drive video subscriber growth in Panama. Fixed video and broadband subscribers grew by 3%, and should be further supported by the upcoming launch of re-vamped video and broadband products in the Panama market.
• In the Bahamas, we experienced relatively flat broadband and fixed voice performance but plan to launch a video product in Q2 2016/17 that we expect will strengthen our competitive position.
• Turning to Jamaica, one of the largest telecommunications markets in the region, broadband subscribers were up 2%, and mobile subscriber numbers continued to grow, with 18,000 additions in the quarter, as we continued to win back market share following the successful rebranding to Flow.
• Increased competition and challenging macroeconomic environments in Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago led to reduced video subscribers, however we are seeing encouraging early results from recently launched fixed bundles in Trinidad & Tobago.
South Africa local elections: ANC suffers major setback
South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst electoral setback since apartheid ended in 1994. With 94% of the votes counted after Wednesday's municipal elections, the party has lost the key battleground of Nelson Mandela Bay to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). The two parties are in a close fight for Johannesburg and Pretoria. But the ANC is still in the lead nationally, with 54% of the vote.
India market attack: Suspected rebels kill 13 in Assam
Gunmen have opened fire on a busy market place in India's north-eastern state of Assam, killing at least 13 people, officials say. Police blamed the attacks on suspected rebels from a faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). Reports say one suspected rebel was killed in the gun battle with security forces in Kokrajhar district. The NDFB wants an independent homeland for the Bodo ethnic group to be carved out of Assam. Assam police chief Mukesh Sahay told the BBC that the attack took place in a market in Balajan, an area just outside the town of Kokrajhar. "Many civilians sustained injuries when militants opened indiscriminate fire. They also lobbed grenades," he said.
Rio 2016: Moroccan boxer held over alleged sex assault
A Moroccan boxer has been arrested by Brazilian police over allegations of sexually assaulting two female cleaners in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic village. Hassan Saada, 22, was held on suspicion of committing the assaults earlier this week, a police statement said. The boxer, who fights in the light-heavyweight category, was due to take part in his first bout on Saturday. A Brazilian judge has ordered he be detained for 15 days, pending an investigation, media reports said. His detention could mean Saada is unable to take part in the Games. Brazilian media reports quoted police as saying the boxer had pushed one of the maids against a wall, pressing her with his thighs, and tried to kiss her. He is also accused of squeezing her breast and making obscene hand gestures.
Donald Trump backtracks on 'video of Iran payment'
US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has backtracked on a claim that he saw video footage of a US cash payment to Iran. He made the claim at a rally. His team admitted it was incorrect, only for Mr Trump to repeat it at another rally. The money was paid at the same time US hostages were freed, but the president said it was a payment linked to the landmark Iranian nuclear agreement. Mr Trump said the video he saw was of the hostage transfer, not the payment. The White House announced in January it was making payments to Iran - a total of $1.7bn (£1.3bn) to settle a decades-old dispute over a failed military equipment deal - as part of the nuclear accord. A newspaper this week revealed that $400m of that was delivered in cash, flown to Iran at roughly the same time as four Americans were released in a prisoner exchange.
EARL RAPIDLY WEAKENS
NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM EARL ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 12:00PM THURSDAY 04TH AUGUST 2016
EARL RAPIDLY WEAKENING OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN OF NORTHERN GUATEMALA
AT 11:00AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM EARL WAS LOCATED WELL INLAND NEAR LATITUDE 17.2° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 89.9° WEST OR ABOUT 115 MILES WEST OF BELIZE CITY.
EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 12 MPH, AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, EARL WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN GUATEMALA AND SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 50 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AS THE CENTER MOVES OVER HIGH TERRAIN, AND EARL IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION BY TONIGHT.
THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 6PM
PREPARED BY FORECASTER: ORSON NIXON
08/04/2016 1600UTC
Weather Forecast
THIS IS A PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT THURSDAY 04TH AUGUST 2016 ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 6AM
GENERAL SITUATION: A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BEACHGOERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO THE THREAT OF RIP CURRENTS AT BEACHES MAINLY ALONG THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN SHORELINES.
ALL AREAS:
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY AND HOT BUT A BIT BREEZY IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS. WARM AND BREEZY TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS…EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS…4 TO 7 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 93 °F 34 °C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 79°F 26 °C
SUNRISE: 6:39AM MOONRISE: 8:15AM HIGH TIDE: 9:35AM & 9:56PM
SUNSET: 7:52PM MOONSET: 9:11PM LOW TIDE: 3:43PM
EXTENDED FORECAST: HIGH PRESSURE WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA INTO THE WEEKEND.
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH THE CHANCE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: SOUTHEASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS…EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS…4 TO 7 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS…EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS…4 TO 7 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: SEE LATEST NEWS ITEM ON EARL.
FORECASTER: IAN V. MCKENZIE/C.G.
LARGE EARL HEADING FOR BELIZE
NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM EARL ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY, FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, ON WEDNESDAY 3RD AUGUST, 2016 AT 6 PM.
AT 5PM EDT, TROPICAL STORM EARL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.1° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 86.0° WEST OR ABOUT 70 MILES EAST OF ISLA ROATAN, HONDURAS AND ABOUT 150 MILES EAST OF BELIZE CITY.
EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK, THE CORE OF EARL IS EXPECTED TO PASS NEAR THE HONDURAS BAY ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS, THEN MAKE LANDFALL IN BELIZE TONIGHT OR EARLY THURSDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 70 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS, HOWEVER, EARL IS EXPECTED TO BE A HURRICANE BY THE TIME IT REACHES BELIZE. WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AFTER THE CENTER OF EARL MOVES INLAND.
THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT MIDNIGHT.
PREPARED BY DUTY FORECASTER: SHEZELLE MATHER 3RD AUGUST 2016, 5:45 PM
EARL WEAKENS AS IT HEADS OVER BELIZE
NEWS ITEM ON HURRICANE EARL ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 6AM THURSDAY 04TH AUGUST 2016.
EARL IS WEAKENING AS IT MOVES FARTHER INLAND OVER BELIZE
AT 5 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF EARLWAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.3°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 88.9° WEST OR ABOUT 50 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF BELIZE CITY.
EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 15 MPH AND A TURN TOWARDS THE WEST-NORTHWEST AND A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF EARL IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN BELIZE THIS MORNING, MOVE ACROSS GUATEMALA AND THE SOUTHERN YUCATAN PENINSULA LATER TODAY, AND BE NEAR OR OVER THE SOUTHERN BAY OF CAMPECHE FRIDAY NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS, AND ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AS THE CENTER MOVES FARTHER INLAND. EARL IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN TO A TROPICAL STORM LATER THIS MORNING AND TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION BY FRIDAY MORNING.
THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT NOON.
PREPARED BY FORECASTER: IAN V. MCKENZIE
04@5:58AM