Obtaining blood when persons need it can be a harrowing experience. Very recently, I felt it vicariously while a comrade urgently required blood. Eighteen months ago, on 30 August 2022, the Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh MP issued a message concerning blood donation, which created misgivings in some of those …
Read More »More transmissible, not necessarily more severe; new Covid-19 strain, JN.1, reaches T&T
Trinidad and Tobago recorded its first case of new Covid-19 variant, JN.1, according to Carpha today. At present, global health bodies consider JN.1 to be more transmissible than its predecessors but not more severe, while there are no known new symptoms. On 22 December 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) …
Read More »Daly Bread: Health pomposities—serve and save, don’t hector
The administration of many ministries of government is in continuous decline, while the politicians have wasted tons of money and seek to blame each other when the decline is exposed as a crisis. In that scenario, the politicians and the ministries put out paid advertisements, Facebook posts and media releases, …
Read More »Health Ministry warns public not to buy specific Kinder chocolate products, after salmonella scare
‘[…] Voluntary Product Recall: Kinder Happy Moments Milk Chocolate and Crispy Wafers Assortment, Kinder Mix Chocolate Treats Basket, Kinder Surprise, Kinder Mini Egg, Kinder Egg Hunt kit and Kinder Schokobons…’ The following is a media statement from the Ministry of Health: The Ministry of Health (MoH), out of an abundance of caution, …
Read More »Dear Editor: Children, sport and Covid-19 policy; where the T&T Govt is getting it wrong
“[…] It’s very difficult for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to hide away the fact that their Covid-19 policies severely diminished the positive role sport and physical activities play in children’s lives. “In other words, bad Covid-19 policy is literally at the heart of the increased probability [that up …
Read More »Sport included in safe zone policy; Govt gives green light in time for mid-week WI U-19 fixture
Sport is back—but only if you have taken the jab. Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe confirmed today, via email, that sport has been included in the Government’s Safe Zone policy. It means that, like cinemas, restaurants and bars, national governing bodies and ‘sport serving bodies’ can resume …
Read More »NJAC: Govt must overhaul health system, consult labour workers and implement hazard allowance
“[…] NJAC calls on the Government to urgently implement […] a special hazard allowance or similar benefit […] for all frontline workers throughout the health sector. “NJAC notes with interest, that there is already a precedent for this existing throughout the Caribbean and other parts of the world…” The following …
Read More »Noble: Bringing it home—the cost of dodgy protests and political own goals
The problem is not the dragging of the coffin—as loathsome as that may be. The problem is not the use of coarse language and the electrifying of the voter base. The problem is the ongoing corrosion of our society, where boorish folk and screaming bullies are greeted as heroes by …
Read More »Dear Editor: Why must oil-rich T&T still depend on Cuba for nurses? And imagine if Sea Lots had boat party?
“[…] We have been bringing health personnel from Cuba for almost two decades. Would that money have not been better invested in training and remunerating our own? “One imagines the human body in Cuba is essentially the same as ours. They have built an exemplary health system under an economic …
Read More »Live Wire sheds a tear as Minister of Hypocrisy uses time-travel to join Boxing Day boat party
24 December: The Ministry of Health urges citizens to ‘keep the festivities at home this year’ and ‘celebrate responsibly within your household bubble’. 26 December: Party promoter Adrian Scoon accepts close to 100 paying patrons on to his pleasure boat, Ocean Pelican, for a ‘Seaside Brunch Party’—only it is not …
Read More »Health Ministry confirms T&T’s 11th Omicron case; 75 deaths since Christmas Day
After six more positive results on Boxing Day, the Ministry of Health today revealed that Trinidad and Tobago has 11 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant. Of the six new cases, three were foreigners aboard an international ship which has already left our waters, two were nationals with a …
Read More »Great opportunity, but many minefields—tips for T&T nurses migrating to UK
“[…] For the winters, your accommodation costs should budget to cover heating and electricity. The best-case scenario is finding accommodation at a fixed cost provided by your employer. “[…] Never raise your voice loudly to appear to be shouting at anyone in the workplace. Do not wave your hands/arms around …
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