Category: Health

Combating the spread of H.I.V. and AIDS requires a multidimensional approach, taking into consideration both treatment and preventative measures. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, more commonly known as PREP, is a form of medication used to prevent H.I.V. infection. The National AIDS Commission, NAC, is encouraging the public to make use of this potentially life-saving drug. Enrique Romero, Executive Director of NAC, further explains the benefits of PREP.

 

Enrique Romero, Executive Director, NAC

“So pre-exposure prophylaxis basically is a pill that is taken daily, and it’s for persons who are H.I.V. negative but who may be at higher risk of contracting H.I.V. So let me give you an example, let’s say you have a relationship, a partner, where the, one of the person; Listen the husband is positive and the wife is negative, for whatever reason. So in order for the wife to eliminate or mitigate the risk of contracting H.I.V. from the husband the woman, the wife would take the pill, the pre-exposure prophylaxis daily, and that would prevent, impede the wife getting, contracting H.I.V. from the husband, and again, these are not things we grab because its being done in the U.S. or is done in Europe and in other countries, there is evidence-based data that shows that pre-exposure prophylaxis has a ninety-eight to ninety-nine percent of mitigating H.I.V. transmission, H.I.V. self-testing has ninety-nine percent accuracy and sensitivity.”

Tonight, we bring you the inspiring story of sixty-one-year-old Caryl Meighan, who is expressing heartfelt gratitude for being alive after receiving life-saving heart surgery at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Meighan was told last November that he needed surgery to replace a mitral valve in his heart. Earlier today, we sat down with Meighan, who shared that just a few months earlier, he had tragically lost his brother to the same condition. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the full story of Meighan’s remarkable recovery.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

 

The ticking you are hearing is coming from Caryl Meighan’s chest. It’s coming from a valve placed inside his chest. It’s that valve that is keeping him alive today. Meighan is a survivor. About ten months ago, the sixty-year-old began experiencing pain in his chest and a shortness of breath. He sought medical advice and was told that he would need to undergo heart surgery to fix the issue. Meighan was scared.

 

Caryl Meighan, Patient

“Now for me it was very a bit scary because I had lost my brother during the same surgery, similar to that, but the only difference was that he did his surgery in November. Los Angeles, California.  Just six months before I was there. When I mention it to my woman and family members, he sent up some red flags like you sure and where are you? Where are you going to do? I tell him when I’m going to do it at K.H.M.H.”

 

The word ‘surgery’ is alarming enough, but “heart surgery”? That would scare even the bravest soul. But, despite his anxiety about the procedure, Meighan knew he couldn’t continue living in that condition. He recognised that he needed to undergo surgery for the sake of his future and that of his family.

 

 

 

Britney Gordon

“What was like the breaking point for you that really made you think I have to try and do it?”

 

 

 

 

Caryl Meighan

“My mobility, the tiredness, I was feeling it was coming on more and I couldn’t do certain things for myself. I was that was getting into my head. I figured, I gotta deal with this. I start launching more questions to doctor about the surgery and stuff like that. For me, I really made up my mind to do it after I was directed to a patient that had a year or so earlier successfully and go to surgery done by the I’m going to be the same doctor and after speaking to the lady, she’s a little bit older than me.  I felt comfort. I said to myself, if she can do it, I can and then I saw her mobility or she was moving around yes, that’s what I want to do. That was when I decided I’m going to do it.”

 

Meighan’s surgery took place in June at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City, and since then he has been recovering. Everything had to be perfect to allow for a high percentage of success. That is why anesthesiologist Lydia Blake and her colleagues had to properly prepare for this life-saving surgery.

 

 

 

Lydia Blake, Anesthesiologist

“I remember we had to cancel him the first month because of the same breathing problem he had  and the day before we did it, I went to visit him with my anesthesiologist that comes Dr. Rice that came for doing the surgery because I told him this is one of my patients that they really need us to put all our eyes and teeths together because he has everything and  he will be a challenge.  And he was a challenge for me just in the intubation after I put on this arterial lines. I had to sit him in a sitting position to do, intubate him, got him, thank God.”

 

Though challenging, Meighan’s surgery was a success. Blake says that Meighan was one of the most difficult cases she’s experienced in her eleven-year career.  But it is success stories like his that make her grateful for the work that she does.

 

Lydia Blake

“I just went on my knees and I thank God and I say, these are the things that make me want to continue to be part of the cardiac team. And not just the cardiac team, but working in KHMH, because we do miracles every day here. Despite everything, we come and we give our all and we do. And the greatest satisfaction is when I see those patients walking out there and remembering me and calling me, Hi, Nurse Blake.”

 

 

And it is because of the nurses and doctors at the K.H.M.H. that Meighen is now able to walk around his house, laugh, and be with his family. For that, he is grateful.  A procedure like this is not unusual for the team at the K.H.M.H. Meighen is around the seventieth open heart surgery patient whose life has been saved by the doctors and nurses.

 

 

 

Dr. Adrian Coye, Cardiologist

“The most important thing is that he had the opportunity to have the procedure done here in Belize to be around his family in very close support. And therefore, again, it justifies what we are continuing to do which is to build, a service advanced cardiac program that will service all our patients in their times of needs and of course in the future we’d be able to do emergency heart surgeries.”

 

 

Although still in recovery, Meighen is ready to hop back into action and live his life to its fullest potential.

 

Caryl Meighan

“I plan to recoup and get back to work as soon as possible, you know. That’s it sitting home is kinda killing me, it’s get, I’m bored already.”

 

 

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.

The end of the global AIDS pandemic is within reach and if countries can increase preventive measures and treatment, it can be achieved by 2030. According to the joint United Nations Program on H.I.V. and AIDS, UNAIDS, the Caribbean has displayed substantial progress against H.I.V. since 2010, however, AIDS-related deaths continue to be a concern in several countries including Belize. Today, we spoke with Doctor Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health and Wellness to learn how close Belize is to the endeavour.

 

Dr. Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit, MOHW

“The use of the Dolutegravir, which is a newer medication, which is WHO approved and which we are now using at the ministry and rolled out nationally, that has pretty much shown to be effective. So we rolled that out, Dolutegravir, perhaps eighteen months now. So at this time we will, when we look at the data and we look at how the management is, we’re seeing that the individuals who are on that medication are showing a good response. By that, I mean that if they continue to do their regular checkups, we’re seeing that the viral load is going down. Their CD4 is going up. Clinically, they’re looking well. They’re responding well to it. And we see fewer drug resistance with this new medication. Of course, every time the person has to go in for their checkups, it’s the patient, too, that has to take that time to go back and say, okay I need to check on my liver, my kidneys and everything to ensure that everything is okay.  With this, we do believe that in a span of two years, which should be in the next six months or by the end of the year, we should start seeing a decrease in our mortality. Yes, the numbers might still be as weh we dih see right now. But we should start seeing a decrease in immortality. We’re still trying to throw out the messages of prevention. That has not changed. We have gone as far as introduction of prep now for that purpose, just to make sure that individuals are have an ex armor. Besides having a Condom use and all of that, of course, education, desensitization, the political as well. Now, we also have this armory of prevention with prep. Of course, that is to be used among our serial discordant couples. If you’re in that position, but of course, they’re not anybody to take. You still need to go in, have a little talk with your physician, make sure that you’re a candidate, make sure you do the tests and all of that.”

New H.I.V. infections are on the decline globally, but according to the Joint United Nations Programme on H.I.V. and AIDS, there is still much work to be done to end the pandemic. The disease has been a challenge for the Caribbean for decades, particularly in countries such as Haiti and Jamaica. However, while some countries like Belize have made strides in preventative measures, there is still work to be done to decrease the number of AIDS-related deaths. Doctor Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, provided us with some insight on those numbers.

 

Dr. Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit, MOHW

“For the past years, the numbers for H.I.V. pretty much have plateaued. It has not, I have not seen a decrease in the numbers as other countries have done.  But I haven’t also seen that sharp increase either. So we have maintained or self-retained that like two hundred. It’s not, it differs probably just a little bit or go down and go up. So those numbers have not changed. We still have H.I.V. related deaths.  So that is something that we also are seeing a decline in other areas. But in Belize, we’re still seeing that we do have HIV related deaths yet. Based on what we’re doing, as a ministry and as an entire response, because with the call on the National AIDS Commission and everybody that’s a part of that is how do we address the situation right now? How is it that we’re going to look at what is the best way to address this? To be done and do we need to do more targeted interventions with specific groups? Do we have this epidemic concentrated in a certain population? So those are the things we’re trying to work at.”

Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes.  It is common in tropical and subtropical regions.  Most people infected with dengue won’t show symptoms, but if they do, they might experience high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and a rash.  Fortunately, most recover within one to two weeks.  Dengue fever is on the rise and, as we reported earlier this week, Orange Walk, Cayo and Toledo districts recorded over three hundred cases since the beginning of the season.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Recognized by white markings on its legs, the Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread a number of viruses and other disease agents.  These illnesses include dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever.  The vector comes from Africa, but is now present in various tropical, subtropical and temperate regions across the world.

 

Dr. Jorge Hidalgo, Internist

“That is the variety of the mosquito that, and the females, for the eggs, they need the blood and then they deposit the eggs and then in these good climate conditions, especially flooding.”

 

 

 

It’s dengue season and the swarms of mosquitoes that come alive at sunset are voracious. Males thrive on fruit, while their female counterparts are bloodsuckers.  They need it to mature their eggs. These small biting flies are attracted to chemical substances produced by mammals, including ammonia and carbon dioxide.  Hosts include horses and humans.

 

 

 

Dr. Jorge Hidalgo

“The mosquitoes have developed abilities to become more resistant as with everything else.  The mosquitoes create especially the virus because dengue is a virus disease with the mosquitoes ability to survive in urban and suburban regions and the perfect conditions.  What are the perfect conditions?  Right now, it’s rainy season, it’s hurricane season.  We have flooding and we have water contained in different areas that are essentially the perfect space for the mosquito, for their eggs to hatch and we have more.”

 

Dengue fever is frequently asymptomatic; if symptoms appear they typically begin three to fourteen days after infection.  There is no specific treatment for dengue fever.  In mild cases, treatment is focused on treating pain symptoms.  Severe cases of dengue require hospitalization.

 

 

 

 

Kim Bautista, Chief of Vector Control Operations

“As a country, we have reported eight hundred and sixty-five dengue cases, three hundred and eighty-three lab-confirmed cases, and four hundred and eighty-two clinical confirmed cases.  Seventy-five percent of those cases come from the Orange Walk, Cayo and Toledo districts.  The Toledo District, majority of their cases are from Punta Gorda Town and, of course, Bella Vista.”

 

 

Back in March, the Pan American Health Organization warned of an increase in dengue cases in the Americas.  At the time, over three point five million cases and more than one thousand deaths had been reported in the region.

 

 

 

Kim Bautista

“In 2019, a record was set for the highest incidents of dengue in the region.  At that time, the region saw three point one-eight million dengue cases.  That record was broken in 2023 where the region saw four point five million cases.  We’re at week twenty-seven, but the most recent report from PAHO shows that at week twenty-four of this year, there has been a reported ten point one million cases.  So you could see where, in the past five years, the region has seen three records set for the highest incidents of dengue ever.”

 

Several environmental and social factors contribute to the spread of dengue, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and the El Nino phenomenon.  Rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization also play a crucial role, including poor housing conditions and inadequate water and sanitation services create mosquito breeding sites through discarded objects that can collect water.

 

 

 

Dr. Jorge Hidalgo

“Most of the time, the classic signs of dengue is the patients, after they are bitten by the mosquito, we have an incubation period that can vary between three to fourteen days and an average of seven days.  In that moment then the patient starts to develop initially fever and this fever can last up to five days.  This fever with associated symptoms, most commonly the patients are going to complain about having pain behind the eyes, muscle ache or, in some other areas, we call it breaking bone fever because it’s a lot of pain in the muscles and also it’s like arthritis type of pain.”

 

PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa calls for action, advising strongly for heightened efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and protect against mosquito bites.  There is also a need for increased readiness in health services for early diagnosis and timely clinical management, and continuous work to educate the population about dengue symptoms and when to seek prompt medication. Isani Cayetano for News Five.

Along with the frequent rains will come mosquitoes, and the dengue season. The Ministry of Health and Wellness reports that up to the last week that ended on Saturday, there have been a total of over eight hundred dengue cases. And where you live might matter more when you hear where many of the cases originate. Interestingly, the Belize District no longer has the highest number of dengue cases. The Chief of Vector Control Operations, Kim Bautista, gave us the figures this evening.

 

Kim Bautista, Vector Control Chief, Operations, MoHW

“As a country, we have reported 865 dengue cases, 383 clinic lab confirmed cases. and 482 clinical confirmed cases. 75 percent of those cases come from the Orange Walk, Cayo and Toledo districts. The Toledo District, the majority of their cases, are from Orange, Cayo, Punta Gorda Town, and of course Bella Vista, which geographically is right on the boundary between the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts, but it is administrated by our Stann Creek staff, but for reporting purposes, it is still classified under the data going from the Toledo District. So the Toledo District accounts for 26 percent of our cases or 224. As of this past week, they account for the highest incidents of cases in country at this time. The Orange Walk District has 197 cases total for the year, 23%, followed by the Cayo District 26% of the total cases or 225. The largest urban epicenter believes district believes city and by extension the district used to account for majority of the dengue cases over recent years that trend has shifted quite a bit. At this same point where in terms of week 27, if you compare week 20 up to week 27 of last year versus week 27 of this year, there’s only a 5% increase.  At week 27, last year total, you were looking at 823, and this year you’re looking at 863. So there’s a 5% increase. However, at the week 18, which is at the end of April, since the end of April, we have been below that threshold. And we have been below the trend from last year. So following the projections that we’re seeing we were actually on trend to if we follow this pattern to actually end the year, lower with a lower number of cases than we had last year. So last year, as a country, we reported 3,054 cases, 1,370 laboratory confirmed cases and 1,370 clinical.”