One year has passed since a Haitian national named Mesac Damas allegedly killed his wife and five children in Naples. Police say the couple had a history of domestic violence. The incident shook the Southwest Florida Haitian community - as Damas was one of their own. For the Healthy State Collaborative, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports on how it made them reflect on views within their culture that have allowed domestic violence to silently occur and escalate within the community.

For kids, being sick doesn’t have to mean getting behind in schoolwork. The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida Wednesday showed off its full-time teacher who helps bring the classroom to their patients’ bedside. For the Healthy State Collaborative, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that only two out of five women in the U-S breastfeed their babies for the first six months. It’s a statistic the Women, Infants, and Children program or WIC is trying to change. Rather than simply the “better alternative”, WIC hopes to make breastfeeding the cultural norm in our society – which seems to have lost the practice. For the Healthy State Collaborative, WGCU’s Farah Dosani has the story.

Lee County health officials Thursday identified a rabid bat in Estero and warn residents to keep caution. For the Healthy State Collaborative, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports.

The Charlotte County Health Department recently celebrated the grand opening of its new clinic in Port Charlotte – and it couldn’t have come at a better time.  As the unemployment rate increases, so does the number of people without health insurance.  With no job and no insurance more people are turning to public health clinics as their only alternative.  For the Healthy State Collaborative, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports.

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise nationwide and in Florida - not only in adults, but also teens. The Partnership for a Drug Free America’s 20th National Tracking Study on Teen Drug Abuse found that 1 in 5 teens report abusing prescription medication at least once in their lives. Experts say the rise is a product of their accessibility and the lack of awareness. As part of our Your Voice series: Addicted! - WGCU’s Farah Dosani with the Healthy State Collaborative reports.

Followers
of the world’s most ancient religion now have their own place of
worship in Southwest Florida. The Hindu community is celebrating the
completion of its new temple after years of holding services without
one. The official grand opening is Sunday. WGCU’s Farah Dosani has the
story.

When it comes to summers in southwest Florida, a few things are for sure: hot days, afternoon showers, and purple martins. Between June and August, thousands of these birds come to roost in downtown Fort Myers as well as other spots. People come each year to witness the evening spectacle before the birds migrate further down south. WGCU’s Farah Dosani has more.

Florida
Gulf Coast University partnered with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office
today/Thursday to spread awareness of the domestic human trafficking of
children.  WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports.