Category Archives: Health

Finance, Food, General T&T, Health, Politics, Recession

Descent into imports-dependence

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By Raffique Shah
April 05, 2016
Posted: April 10, 2016

Raffique ShahWhat I established last week was that Trinidad and Tobago, like most small island states that were once colonised by imperial powers, relies heavily on imported foods for its sustenance.

All our staples-grains (wheat, rice, maize), dairy products (milk, cheese, butter), sugar, edible oils, white potatoes, beans and pulses-come from abroad, mainly North America, the EU, Australia and New Zealand.
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Finance, General T&T, Health, Media, PNM, Politics, Recession, Recession

Grow up, take responsibility

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Deyalsingh’s tough message after austere mid-term budget

By Adrian Boodan
Sunday, April 10, 2016 – guardian.co.tt

Terrence DeyalsinghIt’s time that nationals grow up and take some responsibility for T&T, says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.

Deyalsingh was at the time fielding questions from the media when he attended a health and fitness fair hosted by the Couva Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday, at the Chamber’s building at Camden Road.
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General T&T, Health

Medical Advisory Board Will Level the Field

3 Comments

By Stephen Kangal
February 23, 2016

Stephen KangalThe case for ordinary citizens to be justly compensated for being the unsuspecting and hapless victims of alleged medical malpractices taking place with increasing frequency in the public health sector must be addressed with the requisite urgency as recommended in a recent Judgment delivered by Mr Justice Frank Seepersad.
Continue reading Medical Advisory Board Will Level the Field →

Africa, Caribbean, General T&T, Health, Media, Uganda

Zika, sex and pesticides

1 Comment

Sunday, February 21 2016
Newsday – newsday.co.tt

Aedes Aegypti mosquitoReporter JANELLE DE SOUZA reviews the debate over the rise of the Zika virus in the Caribbean, as Trinidad and Tobago joins the list of countries reporting cases of the mosquito-borne illness.

Could the use of a popular pesticide to control the mosquito population be responsible for the most feared outturn of Zika, head and brain deformity in babies born to mothers who were afflicted by the virus? Can the Zika virus be transmitted through sexual intercourse? These were among the most pressing fears as another of those big diseases with the small names manifested its entry into Trinidad and Tobago last week. Zika’s arrival plus the global debate over its spread and consequences deepened national concern and stimulated emergency measures that were laid down by the Health Ministry several weeks ago as the relatively new virus preoccupied countries far and near, with health emergencies and intense action to contain it.
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Carnival, General T&T, Health, International, Politics

Man, mosquito and money

By Raffique Shah
February 02, 2016

Raffique ShahIn this space yesterday, Dr Sherene Kalloo launched a broadside against Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and his almost jokey war against the Zika virus, pre-empting a column I had already half-written, titled “Man vs Mosquito”.

Dr Kalloo argued that Minister Deyalsingh’s declaration of war against Zika and the Aedes Egypti mosquito by deploying soldiers, as hard-hit Brazil has done, as being a failed strategy.

It has not worked in Brazil and it will not work here.
Continue reading Man, mosquito and money →

China, corruption, Finance, General T&T, Health, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Scale of squandermania mind-boggling

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By Raffique Shah
October 19, 2015

Raffique ShahIf a mere ten percent of the sums of money quoted by almost every new PNM minister as having gone to waste or astray under the previous government is factual, then at least a billion dollars was squandered or stolen during the tenure of the People’s Partnership.

If the ministers were accurate and truthful in their allegations of profligacy, then an astounding ten billion dollars, at least, found its way into the bank accounts of assorted thieves and accomplices.
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General T&T, Health, Law, Media, People's Partnership, UNC

Volney lands job at Health Ministry

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By Sue-Ann Wayow
July 22, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Herbert VolneyFORMER Minister of Justice Herbert Volney who was fired in September 2012 by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for his role in the Section 34 fiasco, was hired several months ago by the Ministry of Health as a legal consultant.

Volney was working for a monthly salary of between $25,000 and $30,000.

The Sunshine newspaper first reported on Volney’s new position, and gave his monthly remuneration as $30,000.
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General T&T, Health, Parliament

Coping with the generation gap

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By Raffique Shah
May 17, 2015

Raffique ShahIf you allow yourself to be consumed by politicking that more so in the run-up to elections, is a deafening cacophony that can distract you to death, you miss out on not-too-subtle changes that are altering the landscape fundamentally.

I am in my 70th year, and while some aspects of aging are catching up with me, I remain mentally alert, capable of digesting many of the exciting advances in technology that, for better or for worse, have opened up new horizons that we must learn to live with or find ourselves buried in the sands of time.
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General T&T, Health

Medical System a Mess

5 Comments

By Raffique Shah
January 11, 2015

Raffique ShahThe public medical institutions in this country are in crisis. Note well that I did not say the “healthcare system” because while there have been some initiatives in promoting healthy lifestyles and preventative health care, these have not reached the mass of the population.

So we are saddled with a network of district health centres and a handful of hospitals that are charged with diagnosing and treating the sick, but which have failed to fulfil their mandate.
Continue reading Medical System a Mess →