The control of tuberculosis in the Caribbean

A survey of the Ministries of Health in the English-speaking Caribbean countries was conducted with the purpose of collecting information about current capacity in the prevention and control of tuberculosis. A response rate of 78.9 per cent was achieved. The results of this survey indicate that tuberculosis control programmes in the English-speaking Caribbean are limited, and inadequately address issuse relating to multi-drug resistant disease and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Limitations and implications of this survey are discussed.

Attitudes and practices of pesticide users in Saint Lucia, West Indies

This article reports the results of a Saint Lucia survey, part of a larger program, that was the first to document the prevalence of suboptimal safety practices among vector control and farm workers using pesticides in the English-speaking Caribbean. Among other things, the survey found that many of 130 pesticide users surveyed were unaware that the skin and eyes were important potential routes of absorption. Over a quarter said had felt ill at some point as a result of pesticide use. About half the respondents said they had received more than "introductory" training in safe pesticide use, and most said they always found labels or directions affixed to pesticide containers. However, about half said they never or only sometimes understood the labels, and many of those who said they understood did not always follow the instructions. About a quarter of the smokers said they smoked while using pesticides; about a sixth of the survey subjects said they ate food while using pesticides; and over 60 percent said they never wore protective clothing

La lucha contra el SIDA en el Caribe: Un enfoque subregional coordinado / Combatting AIDS in the Caribbean: A coordinated subregional approach

Combatting AIDS in the Caribbean: A coordinated subregional approach