AGP Executive Report

Measles Alert: Barbados is being urged to tighten defences against measles as the Americas face its worst outbreak in more than two decades, with officials warning the island remains vulnerable to imported cases and reminding parents that vaccination is the best protection. Health Tech Boost: The American University of Barbados School of Medicine donated 100 digital stethoscopes to support telemedicine and better monitoring in mobile clinics and communities. Public Health & Safety: The DLP is calling for caution and clearer public health and regulatory checks after reports that the Suarez Brothers Circus may be relocated to the Garrison Savannah, arguing health and worker welfare must come first. Water & Wellness: Puerto Rico’s drought has triggered water rationing, highlighting how roof rainwater harvesting could help islands build resilience during shortages. Drug Safety Watch: Barbados’ National Council on Substance Abuse warns that precursor drug shipments continue to threaten national security, urging tighter controls and action to remove harmful substances from shelves. Accessibility Push: A disability advocate says building codes exist but aren’t enforced, calling for practical steps to improve access to courts and health-care facilities. Caregiving Culture: Barbados’ People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Minister says caregiving is about time, love and presence—not just money—backing policies that redefine fatherhood. Dehydration Basics: A wellness piece breaks down dehydration myths, symptoms and what to choose for hydration beyond plain water. Local Health Workforce Planning (Regional): Saint Kitts and Nevis begins entering data into a centralised health workforce database to strengthen planning for future health needs.

Health Tech Boost: AUB School of Medicine donated 100 digital stethoscopes to Barbados, aiming to strengthen telemedicine and help monitor patients in mobile clinics and communities. Public Health & Safety: The DLP is urging the government to proceed carefully over reports that the Suarez Brothers Circus may relocate to the Garrison Savannah, citing concerns about health, worker welfare, and regulatory transparency after a prior shutdown by health officials. Homelessness & Care: The Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness says complaints about homeless people in public spaces are rising, and highlights how evictions—especially of families with children—are pushing people toward limited shelter options. Substance Control: The National Council on Substance Abuse warns that criminal groups are continuing to export drug precursors from Barbados, urging tighter controls and enforcement. Preventive Screening: Bayview Urgent Care partnered with Rubis to offer discounted basic screening packages to make early checks for conditions like diabetes and hypertension more affordable. Toxic Chemicals Watch: Barbados is reviewing whether to tighten controls or ban paraquat, as more countries phase it out over health concerns. Accessibility: Disability advocates are calling for urgent enforcement of building codes and better access to public buildings, including health-care facilities and courts. Hydration & Wellness: A dehydration explainer stresses that hydration isn’t just water—fruits, vegetables, and electrolytes can help depending on symptoms. Nutrition & Community: FundAccess and UWI CAGRI completed broiler and layer management workshops, training poultry entrepreneurs in animal health and feeding for stronger food systems.

Public Health & Safety: The DLP is urging the government to proceed carefully on any plan to relocate the Suarez Brothers Circus to the Garrison Savannah, saying public health, worker welfare, and regulatory transparency must come first after health authorities shut the circus down at its previous site. Community Care: Minister Adrian Forde says caregiving is “about more than money,” highlighting the Family Leave Act and pushing men to take a bigger role in nurturing children and community wellbeing. Dehydration & Wellness: A local wellness piece breaks down dehydration myths, key symptoms, and practical hydration options, including when electrolytes may help. Preventive Screening Access: Bayview Urgent Care and Rubis are partnering to offer discounted basic screening packages to make routine checks more affordable, aiming to catch diabetes and hypertension early. Disability Access: Senator Janeil Odle calls for real enforcement of building codes and faster accessibility upgrades, pointing to barriers faced by people with limited mobility in courts and public buildings. Homelessness & Housing Stress: The Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness reports rising complaints tied to public-space issues and says evictions—sometimes at night and involving families—are worsening homelessness. Food & Water Safety: BADMC has secured a High Court injunction over alleged pollution and diversion affecting Three Houses Spring, underscoring the link between environmental protection and public health. Toxic Chemicals Watch: Authorities are reviewing whether to tighten controls or ban paraquat, amid growing international concern about links to serious health conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Youth Reading Support: A reading clinic for boys reports real gains for some students, but attendance gaps remain a challenge—prompting calls for more engaging reading approaches. Sports & Health Workforce: Barbados’ BDF emergency medical team has been deployed to earthquake-hit Venezuela for a three-month relief effort, including field hospital support and prescriptions. Youth & Learning Tech: A WorldSkills Barbados Juniors camp project shows teens using social media-style learning to build a mobile app that turns study into interactive questions.

Dehydration & hydration myths: A Barbados-linked wellness piece breaks down dehydration signs (thirst, dark urine, dizziness) and stresses that hydration isn’t just water—electrolytes and “fleshy” fruits/veg can help, while also tackling the idea that coffee always dehydrates. Preventive screening access: Bayview Urgent Care and Rubis are partnering to offer discounts on basic screening packages, aiming to make early checks for NCDs like diabetes and hypertension easier for more people, especially those without insurance. Homelessness pressure in Bridgetown: The Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness says complaints are rising in public spaces and highlights a gap where some families—especially women with children—can’t access shelters and end up turning up at police stations late at night. Housing & health risk: Evictions are being flagged as a growing driver of homelessness, with calls to look at how people are evicted and where support should be available. Public health & environment: BADMC secured a High Court injunction over alleged pollution and diversion affecting Three Houses Spring in St Philip, with orders to stop discharges and restore natural flow. Toxic weedkiller review: Barbados authorities are considering tighter controls or a ban on paraquat (Gramoxone) amid growing international health concerns, including links raised to Parkinson’s disease. Accessibility for disabled people: A disability advocate says building codes exist but aren’t enforced, urging practical steps now—starting with health-care facilities and courts—to meet the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act timeline. Youth reading support: A reading clinic for boys reports learning gains but warns attendance dropped as the programme competed with other camps, reinforcing the need for better engagement strategies.

Homelessness & Housing: The Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness says evictions are driving more people onto the streets, with families—especially women with children—reportedly being pushed out in the early hours and left with nowhere to go but the shelter system. Gun Crime Prevention: The DLP is backing action against violent crime but warns the Domestic Terrorism Bill shouldn’t replace investment in prevention, youth intervention and social services. Reading & Boys’ Literacy: A reading specialist says boys can be reached by meeting them where they are—using interests like comics to build comprehension—after a summer reading clinic showed gains but struggled with attendance. Drug Safety & Security: Barbados’ National Council on Substance Abuse warns criminal networks are exporting drug precursors, including codeine linctus, and urges tighter controls. Preventive Care Access: Bayview Urgent Care and Rubis are partnering to offer discounted basic screening packages to help more people catch NCDs early. Accessibility for Disability: A disability advocate says building codes exist but aren’t enforced, and calls for urgent accessibility upgrades in public buildings, including health-care facilities and courts. Environmental Health: BADMC secured a High Court injunction over alleged pollution and diversion affecting Three Houses Spring in St Philip. Toxic Weedkiller Watch: Authorities are reviewing whether to tighten controls or ban paraquat amid growing international health concerns. Hydration Basics: A local wellness piece highlights dehydration signs and stresses that electrolytes and water-rich foods can matter, not just plain water. Poultry Supply Risk: Farmers warn chicken shortages could return in 6–12 months unless long-term poultry sector issues are addressed.

Water & Climate Resilience: Puerto Rico’s drought has triggered water rationing for 180,000 households, with experts pointing to roof rainwater harvesting as an underused fix while aging pipes worsen the crisis. Food & Health Safety: Barbados’ agricultural regulator has secured a High Court injunction over alleged pollution and diversion at Three Houses Spring in St Philip, aiming to protect a key water source. Preventive Care Access: Bayview Urgent Care and Rubis are partnering to offer discounted basic screening packages, targeting earlier detection of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Toxic Exposure Watch: Barbados is reviewing paraquat (Gramoxone) controls as more countries move to phase it out over health concerns, including links raised to Parkinson’s disease. Public Health & Community: The Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness says complaints about people in public spaces are rising, with some refusing shelter options—raising concerns for wellbeing and safety. Disability Rights: Disability advocates are calling for enforced building codes and faster accessibility upgrades, especially for health-care facilities and courts. Substance Control: Barbados’ NCSA warns that precursor drug shipments from the island threaten national security, with steps taken to remove some products from shelves. Health Workforce Support: Barbados’ BDF emergency medical team has been deployed to earthquake-hit Venezuela, providing field hospital care and prescriptions. Youth Learning & Health: A reading clinic for boys reports real progress but highlights attendance gaps—an early-life support issue that can affect long-term outcomes.

Dehydration Watch: A Barbados wellness segment breaks down dehydration signs (thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, lightheadedness) and stresses that hydration isn’t just water—electrolytes and water-rich foods like watermelon and pineapple can help. Preventive Care Access: Bayview Urgent Care and Rubis are teaming up to offer discounted basic screening packages, aiming to catch diabetes and hypertension risk earlier. Poultry Supply Pressure: Trinidad and Tobago poultry farmers warn chicken and egg shortages could return in 6–12 months without long-term support, citing biosecurity costs, rising medication prices, and dependence on imported eggs and birds. Health Workforce Support: Barbados is set to receive specialist Ethiopian doctors and nurses under a government-to-government mobility agreement to ease public healthcare staffing shortages. Disaster Medical Response: Barbados Defence Force emergency medical teams have been deployed to earthquake-hit Venezuela, continuing field hospital care and prescriptions for affected residents. Community Wellness & Housing: The government plans to acquire church land in St Philip for higher-density housing that includes outdoor exercise spaces to support community wellness. Youth Health & Skills: A WorldSkills Barbados Juniors camp project turns screen time into learning via a mobile app concept, encouraging smarter use of social media.

Preventive care access: Bayview Urgent Care teamed up with Rubis to offer discounts on basic screening packages, aiming to help more Barbadians catch diabetes and hypertension risk early. Public health education: A CG Atlantic nutritionist says dehydration isn’t just about water—electrolytes and “fleshy” fruits/veg can help, and coffee myths were also addressed. Food system resilience: Poultry farmers warn chicken and egg shortages could return in 6–12 months unless long-term sector issues are fixed, including rising medication costs and dependence on imported inputs. Health workforce planning: Barbados is set to receive specialist Ethiopian doctors and nurses under a government-to-government mobility framework to ease public healthcare staffing shortages. Community wellbeing: The Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness says complaints about people in public spaces are rising, and some refuse shelter options—prompting a national consultation with key services. Safety & screening: Barbados advanced new immigration rules for advance passenger data to strengthen border security while protecting personal data. Disaster response: Barbados Defence Force medical teams continue earthquake relief in Venezuela, with field hospital care and prescriptions reported. Funeral sector reform: The Barbados Association of Funeral Directors calls for modernising funeral laws after court action involving Two Sons Funeral Home. Youth & skills for health futures: A teen’s app turns screen time into learning, using social media-style access paired with short questions.

Disaster Response: Barbados Defence Force emergency medical teams have been rotated again to earthquake-hit Venezuela, with a new 61-person medical contingent joining ongoing care for about 1,500 people since the field hospital opened. Preventive Care Access: Bayview Urgent Care and Rubis are partnering to offer discounted basic screening packages, aiming to help more Barbadians catch chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension early. Health Workforce: Barbados is set to receive specialist Ethiopian doctors and nurses under a government-to-government health workforce mobility agreement to ease public healthcare staffing shortages. Cancer Support Push: The death of 14-year-old Trashaun Atwell has prompted calls for a national catastrophic illness fund for children and young people, so families aren’t forced into online fundraising. Border Health & Safety: Barbados is moving to strengthen border screening with advance passenger information legislation, designed to improve national security while protecting personal data. Funeral Industry Reform: The Barbados Association of Funeral Directors is urging full modernisation of funeral laws after frustration over being left out of government discussions. Youth Health & Wellness: A national breastfeeding policy call and wider support for breastfeeding are highlighted amid warnings about barriers to sustained breastfeeding. Community Wellness Planning: Government plans to acquire church land in St Philip for higher-density housing that includes outdoor exercise spaces.

Youth & Learning Tech: A 15-year-old camper at the WorldSkills Barbados Juniors Future Skills Camp built an app concept that turns social media time into short learning challenges, asking users questions before unlocking selected platforms. Preventive Care Access: Bayview Urgent Care partnered with RUBIS to offer discounted basic screening packages for corporate and retail customers, aiming to catch non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension earlier. Breastfeeding Support: QEH’s Shermena Kirton says more young mothers are hesitant to breastfeed due to lifestyle and work pressures, and calls for tailored education that fits each mother’s situation. Cancer Care Funding Push: After the death of 14-year-old Trashaun Atwell from acute myeloid leukaemia, the DLP is urging a national catastrophic illness fund for children and young people. Health Workforce: Barbados is preparing for specialist Ethiopian doctors and nurses under a government-to-government mobility agreement to ease public healthcare staffing shortages. Funeral Industry Oversight: The Barbados Association of Funeral Directors wants funeral laws modernised, citing frustration with an outdated regulatory framework amid court action involving Two Sons Funeral Home. Food & Safety: Fishermen warn limited ice capacity could affect seafood freshness as the new fishing season approaches. Community Wellness Events: Tridents Trust Day (Sept 10) will include free health screenings alongside fundraising for women’s health and cancer support.

Digital Health & Safety for Remote Workers: A new ranking of the healthiest and safest digital nomad destinations puts Iceland at No. 1, using healthcare quality, personal safety, peace, life expectancy and air quality—useful for long-stay wellness planning. Barbados Health Workforce: Barbados is set to receive specialist Ethiopian doctors and nurses under a government-to-government mobility deal aimed at easing public healthcare staffing shortages. Breastfeeding Support: At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, nurses say more young mothers are hesitant to breastfeed due to lifestyle and work pressures, and they’re pushing tailored education to fit each mother’s situation. Cancer Care Funding Push: After the death of 14-year-old Trashaun Atwell from acute myeloid leukaemia, the DLP is calling for a national catastrophic illness fund so families aren’t forced into online fundraising for life-saving treatment. Funeral Industry Oversight: The Barbados Association of Funeral Directors urges full modernisation of funeral laws, after court action sought to close Two Sons Funeral Home’s mortuary operations for compliance issues. Local Wellness & Community: BARP backs the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners’ call for Barbadians to take non-communicable disease prevention seriously, stressing healthy ageing starts long before retirement. Food & Nutrition Resilience: Researchers across the Caribbean are testing black soldier fly larvae to turn food and farm waste into locally produced animal feed, tackling food insecurity and reducing reliance on imports. Public Health in the Region: In Curaçao, lawmakers are pressing for answers on whether cruise-ship waste at Malpais has enough safeguards and capacity to protect the island’s waste stream.

Border Security & Privacy: Barbados will introduce new powers for immigration authorities to screen travellers in advance, using the Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Bill to strengthen national security while protecting personal data and avoiding racial profiling. Disaster Response: Barbados has sent a fresh Barbados Defence Force medical team to quake-hit Venezuela as part of a rotating field hospital effort, aiming to keep emergency care running on the ground. Housing & Wellness: Government plans to acquire church-owned land in St Philip to support a housing push, with a shift toward higher-density homes and community spaces that include outdoor exercise. Public Health Workforce: Ethiopia’s specialist doctors and nurses are set to arrive under a Barbados-Ethiopia health workforce mobility agreement to help ease staffing shortages in the public system. Cancer Support: The death of 14-year-old Trashaun Atwell has renewed calls for a national catastrophic illness fund for children and young people so families aren’t forced into online fundraising. Breastfeeding Push: Experts and QEH staff are urging stronger support for breastfeeding, including a comprehensive national breastfeeding policy, as more young mothers report barriers tied to lifestyle and work. Funeral Law Reform: The Barbados Association of Funeral Directors is calling for modernising funeral legislation, arguing the current rules are outdated and leaving the sector stuck in compliance disputes. Community Health Access: Back-to-school outreach efforts are delivering screenings and vaccinations to hundreds of children, blending health services with family support ahead of the new term.

Workforce support: Barbados is set to receive specialist Ethiopian doctors and nurses under a government-to-government health workforce mobility deal, aimed at easing public healthcare staffing shortages. Funeral law reform: The Barbados Association of Funeral Directors is calling for full modernisation of funeral industry legislation, saying outdated rules are the real problem behind compliance disputes. Child cancer funding: After the death of 14-year-old Trashaun Atwell following acute myeloid leukaemia, the DLP is pushing for a national catastrophic illness fund so families aren’t forced into online fundraising. Breastfeeding push: QEH advocates say more young mothers are reluctant to breastfeed due to lifestyle and work pressures, renewing calls for a comprehensive national breastfeeding policy and workplace support. Back-to-school health services: A Church of God in Christ outreach delivered vaccinations and health screenings to nearly 300 children, while other community groups are helping families with school supplies and mental health stress relief. Nursing shortages region-wide: A regional focus on strengthening labour partnerships highlights ongoing healthcare workforce gaps and the need for better mobility pathways. Local health system spotlight: U.S. Embassy officials visited Joseph N. France General Hospital in St Kitts and Nevis, praising improvements and service readiness. Food safety for fishers: Fishermen warn limited ice-making capacity could affect seafood freshness as the new season approaches. Wellness and recovery hub: A new oceanfront integrated gym and recovery/workspace concept is opening in Barbados, targeting busy professionals’ health routines. Sports with health relevance: Cricket West Indies’ Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship kicks off in Antigua, with Barbados among the teams.

Cancer Care Funding Call: After 14-year-old Trashaun Atwell died following a two-year battle with acute myeloid leukaemia and was awaiting a bone marrow transplant, the DLP is urging a national catastrophic illness fund for children and young people to reduce reliance on public fundraising. Breastfeeding Support Push: QEH breastfeeding advocate Shermena Kirton says more young mothers are hesitant to breastfeed due to lifestyle choices and work pressures, calling for tailored education; separate calls are also growing for a comprehensive national breastfeeding policy and workplace support. Back-to-School Health & Mental Wellbeing: Church of God in Christ outreach delivered health screenings and vaccinations to 289 children, while a “Every child should have a backpack” initiative aims to ease back-to-school stress and support mental health. Funeral Home Health Concerns: A multi-ministry crackdown has temporarily shut Two Sons Funeral Home for six weeks as authorities move to remove 17 unclaimed bodies amid complaints about embalming chemical smells affecting residents. Local Health System Update: U.S. Embassy officials visited Joseph N. France General Hospital in St. Kitts and Nevis, praising improvements and services for visitors. Community Wellness via Sport: BHTA’s Adopt-A-School Futsal Tournament seeks at least $50,000 for school needs, including food and nutrition and wellness-related upgrades. Sea Safety & Preparedness: NOAA’s updated outlook cuts the expected storm count but warns the Caribbean’s peak risk period is starting now, urging travellers to plan for risk, not just headlines. Fishing Freshness Worry: Barbados fishermen fear limited ice-making capacity could disrupt freshness and costs as the new season approaches. Tourism Offer (Wellness Angle): Sea Breeze Beach House and O2 Beach Club & Spa launched September–October offers waiving single supplements, with spa credits and family support for single parents and solo travellers.

Health Policy Push: Barbados’ Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation is calling for an urgent national breastfeeding policy, while QEH staff say more mothers are stopping early due to work pressure and limited workplace support. Workplace Support: Nurses and midwives at QEH’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month pop-up urged employers to provide safe spaces for pumping and storage, noting many women return to work around three months and may switch to formula when facilities aren’t available. Local Hospital Update: U.S. Embassy officials visited the Joseph N. France General Hospital in St. Kitts and Nevis, praising improvements and reviewing services for visitors needing care. Community Health Access: A Church of God in Christ back-to-school outreach in Barbados provided health screenings and vaccinations for nearly 300 children, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the One Family Programme. School Support Through Sport: The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association launched an Adopt-A-School futsal tournament aiming to raise at least $50,000 for school needs, including nutrition and wellness-related upgrades. Public Health & Safety: A multi-ministry crackdown temporarily shut down Two Sons Funeral Home for six weeks amid complaints about formaldehyde smells and concerns about embalming chemicals. Cancer Loss: Trashaun Atwell, 14, died after a cancer battle with acute myeloid leukaemia, following a bone marrow transplant wait at QEH. Health Tech Research: A new underwater robot approach can estimate divers’ breathing rates by tracking bubbles, offering potential safety benefits for dive emergencies.

Under-19 Cricket (Health & Youth): Barbados Under-19 women kicked off the CWI Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship with a clinical nine-wicket win over the Windward Islands, bowling them out for 67 before cruising to 68/1; they face the Leeward Islands next. Breastfeeding Support (QEH & Workplace): QEH and breastfeeding advocates say more young mothers are stopping early due to work pressures and lack of workplace support, calling for breastfeeding-friendly environments and dedicated spaces to pump and store milk. Policy Push (Barbados): The Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation is urging a comprehensive national breastfeeding policy to boost rates and create community and healthcare support. Back-to-School Health (Community): A Church of God in Christ outreach delivered health screenings and vaccinations to 289 children ahead of the new school term, partnering with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the One Family Programme. School Funding via Sport (BHTA): The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association launched an Adopt-A-School futsal tournament aiming to raise at least $50,000 for school needs, including nutrition and wellness supports. Hospital Care (Regional): U.S. Embassy officials visited the Joseph N. France General Hospital in St. Kitts and Nevis, praising improvements and reviewing services for visitors. Nursing Education (QEH): A $100,000 donation to QEH’s Nursing Services Department is being framed as an investment in training the next generation of nurses, including critical care development. Public Health Watch (COVID-19): Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners says there’s no sign of a COVID-19 surge, noting respiratory surveillance is used to track flu-like illness levels.