TOURISM AND HEALTH PROGRAM
The recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that a healthy host community with strong safeguards is among the first to recover from a health disruption. It also highlighted the need for tourism-specific health policies and programs. The exponential spread of COVID-19 resulting from travel had the most devastating effect on modern tourism.
On Tuesday 10 October 2023, a team from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)’s Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP), led by Dr. Lisa Indar, Director, of Surveillance Disease Prevention and Control Division, engaged with the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism and Health Steering Committee at the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Providenciales, in order to update and strengthen the TCIs Tourism and Health Program (THP). Simultaneously, the CARPHA lead for their Environmental Health Laboratory, visited the National Public Health Laboratory’s site in Grand Turk for a walk-through to assess the feasibility of upgrading the laboratory to perform Foodborne Disease (FBD) and Waterborne Disease (WBD) testing locally.
This follow-up mission focused on strengthening visitor-based surveillance, registration of additional tourism entities, strengthening FDB surveillance, and reviewing laboratory capacity.
A targeted Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Methodologies training session was conducted by the CARPHA team at Beaches TCI, where over 100 Beaches staff participated resulting in Beaches being awarded the Caribbean Travelers’ Health Assurance Stamp for Healthier Safer Tourism (HST).
The HST award was launched in November 2020 and is a measurable and verifiable traveler’s health assurance and recognition award for tourism entities that are implementing the recommended proactive health monitoring and safety measures. The HST Stamp is endorsed by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Awardees with the HST Stamp are eligible for the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp.
Pine Cay and The Sands at Grace Bay also received the HST award after meeting the criteria of consistently reporting to the THiS and having their staff trained in IPC methods.
The THP is one of CARPHA’s innovative programs that addresses health, food safety, and environmental sanitation (HSE). Real-time, early warning and reaction surveillance systems, response, guidelines, capacity building, HSE standards, policy, advocacy, partnerships, and a travelers’ health award are solutions to the HSE threats affecting sustainable tourism in the Caribbean. The goal is to enhance the health, safety, and security of citizens and visitors while contributing to the sustainability and resilience of Caribbean tourism and the economies of its states.
The TCI was the first Caribbean country to officially launch the THP on June 22, 2016, leading the way regionally for enhancing the health and safety of the tourism product. The TCI has recently been working with CARPHA to reinvigorate and strengthen its program following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commenting on the visit, Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Shaun Malcolm noted “It is important to adopt a multi-faceted cross-sector approach to provide real-time early warning and response, using the Tourism and Health Information System (THiS)”. He went on to say that “this multipronged approach stimulates a rapid and coordinated response to effectively manage and protect both the local population and the industry from any potential public health threats”.
The Minister of Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly expressed her excitement at the program's revitalization, stating, "This real-time reporting system ensures the health and safety of visitors and front-line workers and by extension, our host community. We anticipate the further re-engagement and enrollment of other accommodation and service providers. "
Biden's visit is a high-stakes gamble
For an American president, turning up in a warzone is an extraordinary move.
Joe Biden's trip to the Middle East on Wednesday was always going to be a high-stakes gamble.
But he is now flying into an even more volatile situation, after the bombing of a hospital in Gaza that is thought to have killed hundreds of Palestinians.
Hamas has blamed an Israeli air strike, but Israel said the blast at Al Ahli hospital was caused by rockets fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Mr. Biden had planned to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Arab leaders in Jordan.
But just before Air Force One took off from Joint Base Andrews, the summit in Amman was suddenly canceled.
President Biden would have wanted to look like an honest broker dealing with both sides in the Middle East.
He now faces the embarrassment of being told by the leaders of Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority that they have no confidence in his ability to end the violence, which they say is in breach of international law.
There is no doubt whose side President Biden is on when it comes to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The president described the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October - which left more than 1,400 Israelis dead - as "sheer evil", and said the country had a right and a duty to defend itself.
His hastily organized visit is designed to further demonstrate America's firm solidarity with the Jewish state.
But he is having to balance his support for Israel's aim of destroying Hamas with his deep concerns about the civilian and humanitarian costs.
And while he has publicly warned of the need to operate by the "rules of war", the message he delivers behind closed doors could be sterner.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US and Israel stood for the rule of law, "unlike Hamas".
"This is a foundational element of the discussions we've had with the Israelis forever, and we will continue doing that," he said.
The US wants Israel to allow aid into Gaza, and for it to allow safe passage for trapped Americans in Gaza.
After nearly eight hours of talks with Mr Netanyahu on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had made good progress towards these goals, yet still nothing has been agreed.
President Biden is also crucially aware that global public sentiment could quickly change, and support for Israel might evaporate when overwhelmed by images of Palestinian casualties and suffering.
There is also a very real fear that the more brutal the assault on Gaza, the greater the chance that it could trigger a wider conflict in the region with other countries getting involved.
Then there are inevitable security concerns.
The apparatus that accompanies the president abroad is formidable at the best of times, and a short-notice trip to a conflict zone will be a considerable challenge.
Mr Blinken and his entourage were forced to seek shelter in a bunker as air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv on Monday - that would be a difficult look for a president.
This could be one situation in which Mr Biden's age becomes an advantage, not a problem.
He has been visiting Israel for 50 years, and he has known Mr. Netanyahu for 40 years, describing theirs as a "frank relationship".
That will allow for a more robust exchange of views than those that can be shared between leaders who don't have that kind of personal history.
President Biden has clear ideas about what he believes should and should not happen next.
He thinks it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza.
He has said there needs to be a Palestinian Authority and a path to a Palestinian state, even though there has been no progress towards Palestinian statehood for many years.
He will surely want to put the maximum pressure he can on Israel to operate more carefully in Gaza, and to end the conflict as quickly as possible.
The US has consistently been Israel's most loyal and committed ally.
Regardless of who is in the White House, there has always been broad support for the Jewish state and its right to exist in safety and security.
President Biden has for decades been one of the politicians most outspoken in his backing for Israel, saying in 1986 that "were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect our interests in the region".
Now it is time for the US president to use all the influence and leverage he has at his disposal to try to limit the bloodshed and loss of life and prevent an all-out war across the Middle East.
All while events on the ground are making it harder than ever.
Source- BBC
England book Euro 2024 spot with 3-1 win over scandal-hit Italy
England booked their place at next summer's European Championship with a 3-1 win over defending champion Italy at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
England had to come from behind following Gianluca Scamacca’s first goal for the Azzurri. But two goals from Harry Kane — including a penalty — and a Marcus Rashford strike gave Gareth Southgate’s team the victory it needed to secure at least a top-two finish in its group.
Italy, which is embroiled in another football scandal, could face the prospect of playoffs and even failure to qualify for a second straight major tournament. The Azzurri lost a playoff to North Macedonia last year and didn’t qualify for the World Cup, just a year after winning the pandemic-delayed Euro 2020. They also missed out on the 2018 World Cup after losing a playoff to Sweden.
England leads Group C, three points ahead of Ukraine, which won 3-1 at Malta, and six points above Italy.
The Azzurri play North Macedonia and Ukraine in their final qualifying matches next month.
Italy traveled to England without a number of players through injury and a betting scandal. Premier League midfielders Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo left the Italy camp last week after being questioned by police over alleged involvement in an illegal betting ring.
It was the first time Italy had played England at Wembley since beating Southgate’s team on penalties to win the European Championship in 2021.
The Azzurri took the lead in the 15th minute when Giovanni Di Lorenzo rolled the ball across from the right and Davide Frattesi completely missed the ball but Scamacca fired into the roof of the net.
That was Scamacca’s first goal for Italy — coming in his 13th appearance — and he nearly had a second eight minutes later but he fired just wide of the left upright.
England leveled in the 32nd minute when Kane converted a penalty after Jude Bellingham had been brought down by Di Lorenzo.
Both teams had good chances on the stroke of halftime as Rashford drew a good save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Destiny Udogie had an effort parried at the other end.
England turned the match around completely in the 57th minute when Bellingham sprinted from inside his own half and spread it to Rashford, who then cut inside from the left and thumped the ball into the back of the net.
Kane sealed the match in the 77th minute as he took advantage of some poor Italy defending to get on the end of a long ball and race forward before beating Donnarumma.
Source- Loop Sports
AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes criticised for posting topless photo of himself getting massage during meeting
AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes has been criticized for posting a photo of himself getting a massage during a meeting.
Mr Fernandes shared the image on LinkedIn with the caption: "Was a stressful week and Veranita Yosephine suggested a massage.
"Got to love Indonesia and AirAsia culture that I can have a massage and do a management meeting."
Ms Yosephine is the boss of the Malaysia-based airline's operation in Indonesia, but it's unclear who Mr Fernandes was speaking to in the video call.
The picture shows Mr Fernandes in a glass-walled meeting room while a woman in a face mask massages his neck.
After criticism on social media that his actions were inappropriate, the picture was taken down from his LinkedIn profile after a few days.
"So unprofessional and disrespectful," said one user on X.
"He should be setting an example of good work ethics and culture, not flaunting his body and privilege."
Another user called it "gross" and said it "impacts work ethics".
Mr Fernandes was born in Malaysia and moved to the UK as a boy to attend the prestigious Epsom College.
The 59-year-old entrepreneur bought AirAsia from the Malaysian government in 2001 and turned it into a successful low-cost carrier.
Mr Fernandes also set up the Caterham Formula One team and used to be the co-owner of west London football club Queens Park Rangers.
Source- Sky News
X begins charging new users $1 a year in New Zealand, Philippines
Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, has started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1 (£0.82) a year to access key features, as part of a new trial.
They include the ability to tweet, retweet, like posts, and reply to posts.
Those who opt out of the subscription fee will only be able to read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts.
The social media platform said that the aim is to "reduce spam, manipulation of our platform, and bot activity".
New accounts will also be required to verify their phone number, though Mr. Musk has said that it will still be free to create "read-only" accounts, which do not have key features.
Last month, the bosses of X, Tesla, and SpaceX suggested that all X users may have to pay for access.
Since Mr Musk bought Twitter for $44bn last year, it has seen a continuous revenue decline.
While there is a clear financial interest for the company to charge users, the controversial billionaire has said that getting people to pay for the service is aimed at tackling bots.
He has previously said that a bot costs "a fraction of a penny" to make. "But if somebody even has to pay a few dollars or something, some minor amount, the effective cost to bots is very high".
Paid subscribers of an enhanced service, called X Premium, now pay for more features like longer posts and increased visibility on the platform.
X Premium currently costs $8 a month in the US. The price differs depending on which country a subscriber resides in, while other users can still use X for free.
One risk of putting X behind a paywall is that the platform may lose a large chunk of its users. That in turn, could drive down advertising revenue, which currently accounts for the vast majority of the company's income.
In recent weeks, the company has been investigated by the European Union for the possible spread of terrorist and violent content and hate speech, after Hamas's attack on Israel.
It has also been fined by Australia's internet safety watchdog for failing to cooperate with a probe into anti-child abuse practices.
Source- BBC
Dominica has suspected cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease
Dominica’s Ministry of Health has informed the public of a recently reported increase in cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) within the community.
In the first week of October, the Ministry identified one suspected case. This resulted in the release of a circular by the Environmental Health Department on October 11, 2023. Since then, there have been suspected cases in 5 out of 7 health districts among children below six years old.
HFMD is a common childhood illness caused by various strains of enteroviruses, primarily the Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. It usually affects children under the age of five but can also occur in older children and adults. The disease presents as a mild to moderate illness but can cause discomfort and concern.
Symptoms of HFMD usually appear within three to seven days after exposure to the virus and may include fever, sore throat, a rash on the hands and feet, and small, painful blisters in the mouth. In some cases, individuals may also experience a loss of appetite, irritability, and feel generally unwell.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease can easily spread from person to person through close contact with saliva, nasal discharge, fluid from blisters, or fecal matter. Therefore, it is crucial to practice good personal hygiene, such as washing hands frequently, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces.
To help control the spread of HFMD, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Social Services recommends that parents keep their children home from school or daycare if they exhibit symptoms. It is equally important to seek medical advice promptly if HFMD is suspected, especially if an individual experiences high fever, dehydration, difficulty swallowing, or if the symptoms worsen.
While there is no specific treatment or vaccine for HFMD, most individuals recover within seven to ten days with appropriate care, ample rest, and fluid intake to prevent dehydration. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage the discomfort caused by mouth blisters and fever. It is crucial that individuals affected by HFMD avoid contact with others until they have fully recovered to prevent further transmission.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Social Services is closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with healthcare providers and the Ministry of Education to ensure the adequate management of cases and further prevent the spread of HFMD within communities.
The Ministry is urging the public, particularly school teachers, parents, and children, to raise their awareness of symptoms and promote hygienic practices.
Source- Loop News
Israel 'retakes control of border fence'; hundreds of overnight strikes across Gaza
Israel's military says it has successfully retaken control of the border fence and has recorded no further Hamas incursions over the past 24 hours. Elsewhere, the air force conducted another night of devastating and wide-sweeping airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.
In one of the most devastating stories of this bloody conflict, Hamas gunmen stormed Israel's Supernova festival, killing hundreds of partygoers and kidnapping others.
Mark Austin reports on how the attack unfolded.
The Israeli military has told Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to flee to Egypt to avoid further risk from airstrikes.
The Israeli air force struck some 200 hundred targets overnight and this morning nearly 700 Palestinians have been confirmed as dead as a result of retaliatory strikes since Saturday.
"I am aware that the Rafah crossing is still open," Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, the Israeli Defence Force's (IDF) international military spokesperson, said.
The crossing is situated on the Gaza-Egypt border.
"Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out," he said.
A bit more detail on the wide-scale airstrikes we reported on in our 5.30 a.m. post.
The Israeli Air Force says it has conducted attacks on over 200 targets within the Gaza Strip, specifically in the Khan Yunis and the Rimal areas.
"In the last few hours, fighter jets of the Air Force have attacked many targets of the terrorist organizations throughout the Gaza Strip," it said in a statement.
It shared a video of a building collapsing under a strike from one of its jets.
Among other targets, it destroyed a mosque which it said was "housing weapons" for Hamas.
Another mosque was struck, which the air force said was an "operational headquarters" for the militant group.
These claims have not been verified.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) will dispatch officers today to inform over 100 Israeli families that their relatives are being held in Gaza by Hamas, The Times of Israel is reporting.
Its report quotes Israeli army radio.
Many Israeli families have been left in the dark after their loved ones went missing following Saturday's armed incursion.
The number of hostages is disputed, with the IDF saying yesterday that around 30 people are being held. At the same time, UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan told CNN that the number is "between 100 and 150 people".
Volleys of rockets have been launched at Israel, blazing fire through the sky. Airstrikes have rained down on the densely populated Gaza Strip. The threat of Israeli tanks rolling across the border in a ground invasion is very real.
The escalating and deadly conflict sees two sides with very different military capabilities clash in a struggle that has left more than a thousand dead.
Israel has a more conventional military comparable to that of America or Britain - with the notable difference that it operates conscription - while Hamas is a very well-armed guerrilla organization.
Sky News speaks to a military expert and looks at the different weapons and equipment each side has at its disposal.
Source- BBC
Over 75,000 US healthcare workers go on strike
Over 75,000 union workers at healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente have gone on strike, beginning the largest walkout by health workers in US history.
The three-day work stoppage involves nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians in five US states and Washington DC.
Nearly 13 million patients could be impacted by the strike, which follows stalled contract negotiations between the unions and Kaiser Permanente.
Hospitals and emergency facilities will remain open throughout the strike.
A previous labour agreement between the eight unions in the coalition and the company expired on 30 September,
Through the strike, the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions hopes to pressure the California-based company to address staffing shortages that began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as well as better wages.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kaiser Permanente said that it had made "a lot of progress" in discussions with the unions overnight and "remained committed to reaching a new agreement".
The strike's greatest impact will be felt in California, Oregon, Colorado and Washington state, where hundreds of medical support staff will strike for three days.
While Kaiser Permanente has said that hospitals and emergency departments will continue to function - partly staffed by "contingent workers" - non-essential services such as routine check-ups or elective procedures may have to be rescheduled.
In Virginia and Washington DC, a smaller total of approximately 400 pharmacists and optometrists, planned to stop work for a day. Kaiser Permanente has expanded its network of pharmacies to ensure access to medicines if outpatient pharmacies close during the strike action.
The unions have repeatedly pointed to Kaiser Permanente's profits - which reached about $3bn (£2.47bn) in the first half of this year - as a sign that contracts should be renegotiated. In a July statement, the coalition also claimed that the firm's CEO makes $16m (£13.18m) a year, with 49 executives earning over $1m (£820,000).
Caroline Lucas, the executive director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions told BBC News that executives' inaction over the last six month have led to treatment delays
"These kinds of conditions mean that things that could be preventable and caught in time become crises," she said, adding that the company refused to "listen to frontline health care workers".
"Our frontline health care workers had no choice but to escalate that issue outside of the hospitals."
Michael Ramey, an ultrasound technician at a Kaiser Permanente facility in San Diego, told the BBC's US partner CBS that his job had become "heartbreaking" and "stressful" as a result of chronic staffing issues.
"You don't have the ability to care for patients in the manner they deserve," said Mr Ramey, the head of his local union.
"We are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure we have a contract in place that allows us to be staffed at the levels where we need to be".
The Kaiser Permanente strike is one of several high-profile labour actions that have swept across the US this year, including ongoing strikes by the United Auto Workers and the Screen Actors American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
US Bureau of Labour statistics show that more than 309,000 workers went on strike through August this year alone.
Source- BBC
Canada to welcome Caribbean leaders to Ottawa to strengthen ties
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will welcome leaders from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to Ottawa for the first Canada-CARICOM Summit on Canadian soil.
He will co-chair the Summit, which will run from October 17 to 19, 2023, alongside the Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, the current Chair of CARICOM.
A statement says as CARICOM celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the Summit will highlight Canada’s strong ties with the Caribbean and provide an opportunity for leaders to continue to strengthen cooperation and chart a better future for people in both regions.
Under the Summit’s theme of “Strategic Partners for a Resilient Future”, the Prime Minister and CARICOM leaders will advance shared priorities, including building inclusive and sustainable economies, increasing trade and investment, and promoting multilateral collaboration. The leaders will also work to fight climate change and address its impacts in the Caribbean, including exploring ways to improve access to financing for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean.
During the Summit, Prime Minister Trudeau will highlight the importance of reinforcing democratic values, promoting human rights and the rules-based international order, and strengthening coordination on regional security, including responding to the ongoing security, political, and humanitarian crises in Haiti. Finally, the leaders will engage with Canadian business leaders and investors to further commercial opportunities in the region.
As co-chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates group, Prime Minister Trudeau will take the opportunity to advance the SDGs – the pathway for the world to build a more sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous future for everyone.
Prime Minister Trudeau: “I look forward to welcoming leaders from the Caribbean Community to Ottawa this month. Canada and the Caribbean Community have built an enduring partnership over the last 50 years, based on ties between our people and our shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. At this Summit and beyond, we will keep working together to take climate action, build strong economies, and keep people safe, now and into the future.”
Source- Caribbean Loop News