Youth Smoking Concerns Rise as Stoptober Kicks Off in Curaçao

Surgeons at Radboudumc, a leading Dutch university medical center, have developed a reconstructive procedure to restore the clitoris following vulvar cancer surgery. During treatment for vulvar cancer, the clitoris must sometimes be removed, leaving women unable to experience orgasms and significantly affecting their quality of life. The newly developed operation fills a long-standing gap in women's healthcare — notably, a comparable reconstructive procedure for the penis has existed for approximately 40 years. The breakthrough highlights a historic disparity in medical research and surgical options between male and female sexual anatomy. Doctors hope the procedure will improve both the physical and psychological recovery of vulvar cancer survivors. Vulvar cancer, while relatively rare, disproportionately affects older women and can require extensive surgery. The development is being widely reported across the Dutch-speaking Caribbean, including Curaçao, given the island's close medical and cultural ties to the Netherlands.

Curaçao marked International Day of Older Persons on October 1, with a message of celebration and forward-looking perspective. The island's Advisory Council for the Elderly (Konseho Maneho pa Grandinan) emphasized that aging does not automatically mean illness or dependency. On the contrary, the council noted that many older people on the island remain healthy, independent, and actively engaged in their communities. The observance served as both a recognition of the elderly population's contributions and a call to shift public perception around aging. The council's message aims to combat stereotypes and promote a more positive, empowering view of growing older in Curaçao. The occasion aligns with a global United Nations initiative that draws attention each year to the rights and well-being of older persons worldwide.

As the rainy season approaches Curaçao, agricultural advisors are urging aspiring goat farmers to use the coming months as a planning period rather than a signal to rush out and buy animals. The core message is that new breeders must first establish their own feed production capacity before acquiring goats. Experts warn that purchasing livestock without adequate land and feed infrastructure in place is a common and costly mistake. The rainy season, which supports vegetation growth, should be seen as an opportunity to prepare grazing land and grow fodder. This advice is particularly relevant for first-time or small-scale farmers who may be tempted by the season's greenery to expand their herds prematurely. Building sustainable capacity from the ground up is presented as the responsible and economically sound approach to goat farming on the island.