Connect with us

Bahamas News

BAHAMAS: Health Minister dispels misinformation spreading about TB

Published

on

#Bahamas, February 09, 2018 – Nassau – Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Duane Sands held a press conference at the Ministry, Thursday, February 8, 2018, to dispel the misinformation and state the actions taken by the Tuberculosis (TB) unit as well as to provide a preliminary report and outline the course of action taken by the Ministry of Health to address any new cases of TB in the country.

Dr. Sands said preliminary results of recent screening at Garvin Tynes indicate that 38 students have tested negative; 46 teachers have been tested with two positive, 40 negative and two not yet read; 12 parents tested with one positive, 10 negative and one not yet read; and 22 in administration and support staff tested with three positive.

“I assure the public that the staff from the Ministry of Health will complete the screening exercise at Garvin Tynes Primary School and those students, teachers, administrators and support staff who test positive will be given additional tests as needed to determine whether they have the disease.  It is therefore critical for students to participate in the screening programme.”

He also wished to remind the public that in recent weeks, the Ministry of Health has conducted extensive screening exercises on Eleuthera, R.M. Bailey High School and more recently the Gaming Board in Nassau, which resulted in 17 positives out of 81 tested.

Lodgings Insert

“Those results according to International Standards did not allow for cause of concern or public panic.”

Dr. Sands said the Ministry will continue to conduct the prescribed TB screenings throughout the country as required.

“As the Minister of Health, I am compelled to dispel public panic and fear by informing that The Bahamas has a stellar public health record and every necessary protocol will be taken to identify and address any new cases.”

TB is an infectious disease of the lungs, which is spread through the air from one person to another.  People with TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with every day.  It is not spread by contact with clothes, drinking glasses, eating utensils, handshake, toilets or other surfaces.

 

Symptoms of TB lung disease include:

  • A bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer
  • Pain in the chest
  • Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)

PTS INSERT

Other symptoms of TB disease are:

  • Weakness or fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • No appetite
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Sweating at night

Persons who are experiencing one or more of these symptoms or who have concerns may visit their nearest public health clinic.  For additional information, they should contact the TB Surveillance Unit at the Ministry of Health, Meeting Street.

By: Llonella Gilbert (BIS)

 

Photo caption: Minister of Health Dr. the Hon. Duane Sands (centre) addresses a Tuberculosis update press conference at the Ministry of Health, Thursday, February 8, 2018.  Also pictured from left: Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pearl McMillan and Senior Undersecretary, Ministry of Health, David Cates.

(BIS Photo/Derek Smith)

 

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Husband Murder Plot foiled in The Bahamas; Wife and two others arrested 

Published

on

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

 

#TheBahamas, August 5, 2023 – An American woman has been arrested in The Bahamas, accused of conspiring with two men, one of them alleged to be her lover, to murder her estranged husband.

The woman, 36 year old Lindsay Shiver and the two men, 28-year-old Terrance Bethel, the alleged lover and 29 year old Faron Newbold, were taken into custody last week following police investigation of a reported burglary at Grabbers Bar and Grill restaurant on Great Guana Cay.

The police looked into their cell phones and found WhatsApp messages detailing the assassination plot to kill her husband.

The couple, who built a life in South Georgia have three children and are home owners on the island in the Abacos.

News outlets throughout the US have reported on the scandalous story, including that a nasty court battle over the couple’s reported, $5 Million dollar fortune and three children was underway.  Shiver, an entrepreneur is a former beauty Alabama queen, her husband a former football player was an insurance executive.

According to US media, the husband, Robert, recently filed for divorce from Shivers after a decade of marriage upon discovering she had an alleged extra-martial affair with Bethel whom she met in The Bahamas.

While the husband claims infidelity on the part of his wife, the wife claims he was abusive.

The suspects Shiver, Bethel and Newbold appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley on Friday July 28th.  Their next court date is set for October 5th.

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Alarming Sexual Assault cases raising fears in The Bahamas

Published

on

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, August 5, 2023 – The Bahamas is now facing an unfortunate reality as sexual assault has become and is a growing issue since 2023.  Women and girls are said to be living in fear for their safety from these perpetrators.

The Royal Bahamas Police force has reported on instances of assault in press releases found on their Facebook page.

One report spoke of a 50 year old they were searching for after he burglarized a home and sexually assaulted an elderly woman, 82 years old.  She was reported to be asleep when he woke and assaulted her.

This took place on Tuesday July 11th, 2023 at the home in the Centreville area of Nassau.

There is another incident that took place on July 17th, 2023 which the police are seeking in catching the suspect as they investigate.  It involves a man believed to the perpetrator in for an armed robbery and sexual assault.

According to preliminary data, he approached the victim, a female, with a firearm, robbed her and sexually assaulted her.  He proceeded to enter the house and robbed a male and escaped.  This happened in the Cowpen Road area; also in Nassau.

The assaults continue to grow in number as the police reported that they were investigating two other incidents that took place on July 24th.

The first had to do with a female, 30 years old who reported she was driving on West on Marshall Road when two men approached her after she slowed down near Faith Avenue.  One of the males with a firearm, forced her from her vehicle and took her to nearby bushes where they sexually assaulted her after which they escaped.

The second incident involved à 32 year old woman who was sexually assaulted by a male known to her.  It is reported that she was walking in the Fleming Street area when she accepted transportation from the suspect, who drove her to a dirt road off Gladstone Road where he presented a firearm and proceeded to rape her.

Furthermore, another assault, this time involving a 9 year old girl, was reported.  As revealed by preliminary information, the victim was playing with friends outside where she lives on Saturday July 29th, 2023 when the suspect, a 42 year old male of Summerset Estate, driving a white Nissan Skyline, arrived and gestured to her to enter the car.

She entered the car after which he took her to an unknown location, threatened her and sexually assaulted her.  She was later found somewhere in Spikenard Road; this also happened in Nassau.

Fortunately, he was caught and arrested for abduction and sexual assault on Sunday July 30th by officers affiliated with the Drug Enforcement Unit.

There are other reports of sexual assault throughout The Bahamas as well as rape and attempted rape during the earlier parts of the year, dating back to as early as February.

 

CAPTION: Women Leaders, including Ann Marie Davis, wife of the Prime Minister filled the gallery of The Bahamas Senate this week as members of the upper chamber debated the Protection Against Violence Bill 2023.  The debate came just as the country experiences a spike in sexual assaults against women and girls.  Photo by Patrick Hanna, BIS.

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Premier Misick received a courtesy call from the Bahamas Leader of the Opposition

Published

on

#TurksandCaicos, August 5, 2023 – On August 3rd, 2023, Premier Misick met with the Leader of the Opposition of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Honorable Michael Pintard. The discussion was highly productive, and they delved into matters of mutual concern between their neighboring nations. Hon. Pintard was accompanied by other opposition members, including Senator the Honorable Darren Handfield and Mr. Joshua Sears.

 

Group photo caption:

From Left to Right: Mr. Joshua Sears, Senator Hon. Darren Hendfield, Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick, Bahamas Leader of the Bahamas Hon. Michael Pintard and Deputy Premier Hon. Erwin J. Saunders.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING