SINT MAARTEN (CAY HILL) - International Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon Dr. Marlon Buncamper recently performed the first ever deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast surgery at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).

Dr. Buncamper, shadowing Plastic Surgeon Dr. Marleen Meesters and a team of skilled operating room team performed the surgery to restore the breast shape of a patient who previously underwent a mastectomy as breast cancer treatment. The patient has since made a full recovery.

The seven-hour long complex surgery involved taking a section of tissue from the abdomen and relocating it to create a new breast. The skin, fat and vessels from the abdomen were transposed by means of microsurgery (intricate surgery using miniaturized instruments and a microscope) to the breast area resulting in new breasts that feel and react natural because it is made of the patients’ own tissue.

It is called a DIEP flap surgery after the blood vessel that runs through the abdominal muscle. This is a newer procedure that has fewer long-term risks and complications than alternative options for breast reconstruction.

Dr. Buncamper, an accomplished plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon, has roots in St. Maarten but practices in Belgium and the Netherlands. In 2020, he joined SMMC as a rotational specialist, providing consultations and performing surgeries a few times per year. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Plastic Surgery Department of SMMC in 2020.

Upon the completion of the surgery, which is considered top of the line in breast reconstruction, Dr. Buncamper remarked “I’m proud to have been part of this monumental surgery which is the first on St. Maarten. I’m happy that we were able to give a woman on St. Maarten the opportunity to regain her femininity and to not have to leave the island to do it. I hope that we will be able to help many more women in the Dutch Caribbean as well”.

SMMC CEO Dr. Felix Holiday congratulated the team saying “It fills us with immense pride that we are now able to expand the services we provide with the addition of this new procedure. Dr. Buncamper, Dr. Meesters and the entire operating room team have given this patient a new outlook on life and we look forward to providing many other women who have suffered through breast cancer more options for recovery and healing right here on St. Maarten”.

Patients interested in a consultation at the Plastic Surgery Department of SMMC are encouraged to make an appointment by calling +1 (721) 543-1111 or 910 ext 1300 from Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 4:00pm. SZV patients are requested to obtain a referral letter from their family doctor.

Dr. Marlon Buncamper (c) and Dr. Marleen Meesters (r) with operating room staff performing the DIEP flap microsurgery.

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Short-sightedness among young children is becoming more common because they are spending too much time staring at screens, eye hospitals are warning.

There are no exact national figures but the eye departments at hospitals across the country are reporting a clear upward trend in the number of young children with problems.

“It has been going on for years and it’s only getting worse,” Maastricht University  child eye specialist Jilke Beinsberger told Nu.nl. “We think that in a couple of years over 50% of teens will need glasses.”

Orthoptist Lieke Gouma of the Rotterdam eye hospital said waiting lists are growing for children who need glasses because they have trouble reading what’s on the blackboard.

Young children or teens develop myopia or short-sightedness when they are too close to screens or books, causing objects in the distance to become blurred.

According to Gouma, shortsightedness is not caused by the light emitted by the screens but by the distance to the eyes. “It is much calmer for the eyes if devices are not held up close but because a phone is small children tend to do exactly that. And they want to get a good look at the details of games and videos.”

Experts advise parents to limit screen time and encourage children to alternate looking at their screen with other activities.

They should also teach their children the 20-20-2 rule, which means they watch the screen for 20 minutes and then train their eyes on distant objects for the same amount of time. They also advise two hours of playing outside a day because daylight helps the development of healthy eyes.

(DutchNews)

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Far-right leader Geert Wilders left the ongoing negotiations on forming a new coalition government early on Monday, following “tough talks” about finances and measures to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming to the Netherlands. 

The talks were due to continue until 7 pm but Wilders left at around 3.30 pm. Political sources have told Dutch media he considers the proposed measures to limit refugee numbers did not go far enough. 

The talks leaders said Wilders did not leave in anger.  However, the PVV leader said on social media on Monday evening that he has “finished making concessions”. 

“It is their turn to deliver,” he said.

Wilders also reposted a social media message from RTL Nieuws which stated that he was speechless about the outgoing government’s plans to spend more money on refugees.

Monday’s spring financial statement includes extra funding for emergency accommodation topping €1 billion over the next two years.

The outgoing government is still in power pending an agreement about a new coalition and is continuing to press ahead with policy.

The publication of the spring statement – an interim budget that the cabinet traditionally publishes in May to solve any issues that have developed since the September budget presentation –  took place on Monday at the behest of the parties hoping to form a right-wing government. 

The four party leaders have now reported back to their parliamentary parties and the talks will resume on Tuesday morning, broadcaster NOS said. “It is not easy, but we will continue tomorrow, full of confidence,” Richard van Zwol said. 

Last week it became clear that the four parties – Wilders’ PVV, the pro-farmer BBB, the Liberal NSC and CDA split-off NSV, were divided over money – in particular plans to give extra funding to Ukraine.

They also disagree about dealing with the manure mountain and the future of the public broadcasting system as well as curbing immigration and asylum requests.

One month

The two negotiators have been given until mid-May to come up with a more concrete agreement which should then lead to the formation of an “extra-parliamentary” cabinet, which includes ministers who are experts rather than party members. 

So far, candidate ministers and a possible prime minister have not reportedly been the subject of discussions.

(DutchNews)

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on April 15, 2024. The Central Committee meeting, which was adjourned on March 18, 2024, will be reconvened on Monday at 14.30 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The Minister of Finance will be in attendance. The agenda point is: Detailed outline of the ongoing ENNIA situation, the proposed ENNIA loan mentioned in the media by State Secretary Van Huffelen, the impact to the national budget, and Government’s intentions towards the situation in light of the September 30, 2023, deadline (IS/025/2023-2024 dated September 20, 2023).

This meeting was requested by MP M.D. Gumbs, MP. R.A. Peterson and MP L.N.L. de Weever Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament