Medical Health
Hospital full as population keeps growing
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town is full to bursting and has become the latest casualty of the unprecedented growth in Cayman’s population. As the headcount here continues its relentless rise, all of the country’s infrastructure is coming under strain, including the government hospital. Officials told CNS that they are doing all they […]
17 local schools record cases of hand, foot and mouth
(CNS): As of Wednesday, 18 October, the Public Health Department had identified hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in 17 local schools, according to Medical Officer of Health Dr Samuel Williams-Rodriguez. There are no vaccines that prevent this virus or specific cures. Health officials are therefore urging parents to practice good hygiene to contain the […]
Health officials warn of local dengue transmission
(CNS): Early evidence of local person-to-person dengue transmission has been identified in the Cayman Islands, officials from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Public Health Department have said. So far this year, four of 28 suspected dengue cases have been confirmed, and one of those infected individuals had no travel history.
Ban on Brits giving blood finally lifted
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has approved a change in the local blood donor eligibility policy following a review of the potential risk posed by people who had visited or lived in countries affected by Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as “mad cow disease”. This means people who lived in Britain between 1980 and […]
COVID spreads but not fuelling respiratory illness
(CNS): Seeking to allay concerns in the community that an increase in the spread of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands has caused a correlating increase in respiratory illnesses, Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Gent has said that current hospitalisations due to respiratory problems are in line with previous years.
Cannabis ‘gummies’ delivered without prescription
(CNS): Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Gent is asking medical professionals and pharmacists to follow the law when it comes to the dispensing and prescription of cannabis products, as all forms of the drug are illegal here unless prescribed by a doctor. After a local pharmacy mistakenly delivered cannabis gummies to a young patient without […]
COVID vaccine becomes a seasonal shot
(CNS): Local cases of COVID-19 are on the decline and the last batch of Moderna vaccines on-island has expired. Therefore, the Public Health Department will no longer offer the shots on a monthly basis but will instead administer them seasonally, as is the case with the flu vaccines. Officials told CNS that since April, when […]
CIHC to focus on doctor-patient relationship
(CNS): This year’s annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference will be focused on the relationship between patients and their doctors. Good communication between patient and physician is the key to improved health outcomes, Lizzette Yearwood, CEO of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, said about the theme, Bridging the Gap Between Patient and Practitioner; Pathways to […]
New HSA clinic specialises in care for seniors
(CNS): The Health Services Authority (HSA) has expanded its range of specialist clinics to include geriatric medical care, which is the study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases or conditions associated with people aged 60 and over, including multiple chronic conditions, functional decline, dementia and frailty. This service will be delivered by Dr Glaister Bell, who […]
Vaccine mandate for permit holders lifted
(CNS): The legal requirement for non-Caymanian residents and their dependents to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has been lifted. From Friday, applicants for work permits (new and renewals), permanent residency, specialist caregiver certificates, student visas or Cabinet entry permits, as well as dependents no longer need to prove they are vaccinated, according to government officials.
Anti-tobacco UN treaty extended to Cayman
(CNS): The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has been extended to the Cayman Islands, the first UK Overseas Territory in the region to request and receive this extension. Cayman officials said that the FCTC, one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in the history of the United Nations, would […]
