Medical Health

Pharmacy ventilation fails to extract chemo med fumes
(CNS) The Health Services Authority (HSA) has launched an independent investigation into a ventilation issue at the pharmacy in the HSA hospital in George Town. Preliminary findings indicate that the equipment used to extract fumes during the preparation of chemotherapy medications was not connected to the external ventilation system as intended, according to a release […]

GT Hospital renamed after former health minister
(CNS): The UPM minority government has renamed the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town the Anthony S. Eden Hospital. According to a press release, this is recognition of Eden’s “extraordinary contributions” to healthcare in the Cayman Islands. Eden served as health minister for a total of ten years. During his first term, 1994-2000, he oversaw […]

Health ministry to begin search for new CMO
(CNS): Dr Nick Gent, the current chief medical officer, will be leaving the Cayman Islands at the end of his contract term in September. Officials from the health ministry said that Dr Gent, who has been here since September 2022, has used his extensive knowledge and experience in public health, epidemiology, healthcare policy, human rights, […]

NDC: Cayman’s kids hitting the booze from 11 years old
(CNS): The average age for children in Cayman to start drinking is now 11 years old, the latest National Drug Council survey found. Alcohol remains the most used drug by young people, and more than 10% of students who took part admitted drinking alcohol within the month before the study, and of those, more than […]

Public health to host free open house screening day
(CNS): The Public Health Department will be hosting the first annual Primary Healthcare Awareness Day on Saturday, which will provide free screening for a range of non-communicable diseases and health issues. The free event at John Gray High School Gym kicks off at 9am. It is designed to raise awareness about the importance of preventive […]

HSA holds vaccination clinics as measles reaches Miami
(CNS): The worrying spread of measles throughout the United States has now reached Miami, and doctors fear it is only a matter of time before it arrives here. The outbreak has been confirmed in Florida, Texas, New York, and Georgia, and as a result, Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Gent is urging parents to ensure […]

Power washer contaminates a/c at office complex
(CNS): The head inspector of the Department of Labour and Pensions (DLP) attended an office in the Cayman Business Park on Huldah Avenue, George Town, around 5pm on Friday following a report that office staff had been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide. The inspector found that the source of the noxious gas was […]

Officials urge vaccination after measles outbreak in US
(CNS): The Public Health Department is urging the public to remain vigilant following a recent measles outbreak in several US states, including Texas, New York and North Carolina. Given the increased risk of measles exposure due to travel and community interactions, the PHD stressed the importance of measles awareness and vaccination for all eligible individuals.

Cayman hosting mosquito-borne disease meeting
(CNS): With the worrying increase in the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in the Caribbean, the health ministry is hosting a regional meeting this week on Grand Cayman aimed at strengthening the approach to combatting such diseases. The urgent meeting was called due to the record-high number of dengue cases reported in the Americas and the […]

Half Cayman’s older people at high risk for NCDs
(CNS): Nearly 50% of older adults in Cayman have multiple high-risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), significantly increasing their chance of developing serious health problems, according to a new report based on a national health survey. This will place more strain on the healthcare system and the public purse as the population ages. Even more […]

Officials raise fears over kids eating ganja gummies
(CNS): Government officials are urging parents to pay attention to the possibility that their children may come into contact with and consume ganja-laced gummies. The products, which are now sold legally to adults in Canada and parts of the United States, are still illegal in the Cayman Islands. But the candies containing THC are finding […]