BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 15, 2024 (SKNIS) – With Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and their complications still regarded as significant contributors to deaths in St. Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister and Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr.
Terrance Drew, is challenging health practitioners, nongovernmental organisations, and the private sector to work collaboratively in an effort to accelerate interventions to combat the NCD challenge. Prime Minister Dr. Drew made this clarion call in his address to mark the annual observance of the Global Week of Action on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), which runs from October 15-22, 2024, under the tagline “The Time to Lead is Now”.
Dr. Drew highlighted that diabetes, hypertension, and their complications are the leading causes of illness in the Federation. He shared startling statistics that showed that over 80 percent of deaths in St. Kitts and Nevis were attributed to NCDs between 2017 and 2021, “These diseases are our biggest public health problem and the time to lead is now!” Prime Minister Dr.
Drew asserted. “As a physician and as the Minister of Health and Prime Minister, I am convinced that the time to scale up the NCD response is now. The Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis at-large, is investing its resources and adopting a comprehensive approach to accelerate the NCD response.” The government’s wide-ranging response to the growing threat of NCDs includes prevention, screening, early detection, and aggressive management using evidence-based treatment options to reduce the onset of more severe and debilitating complications like strokes and heart attacks.
The local response in the fight against noncommunicable diseases entails the implementation of the Global HEARTS Programme in health centres throughout the Federation. The Global HEARTS Programme is aimed at strengthening the prevention and control of hypertension, diabetes, and their complications like heart attacks and heart failure.
The multipronged approach also includes the continuation of the SKN Moves initiative and the certification of the JNF General Hospital as a Baby-Friendly Hospital. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) promotes a healthy diet by supporting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for two years, as research has shown that exclusive breastfeeding and optimal infant and young child nutrition are essential for growth and development and in the long term, reduces – NEWS – the risks of developing NCDs.
Prime Minister Dr. Drew noted that these public health interventions, among others, are ongoing and should be accelerated by local authorities. “This fight against the NCDs is real and getting worse because our population is ageing,” Dr.
Drew said. Looking ahead, the honourable prime minister said that the Ministry of Health will strengthen its community-based health services with an emphasis on primary care. “The intention is to expand strategic partnerships with local non-governmental organisations, the private sector, and regional partners.
This has the potential to exponentially increase efforts aimed at the prevention and control of NCDs,” Prime Minister Dr. Drew added. The Ministry of Health will use this year’s observance of the Global Week for Action on NCDs to strengthen calls for the prevention and management of NCDs at every level.
Caribbean, will bring hundreds of homes to our people, with 90% of the construction workforce being local,” he said, adding that construction on the first 100 homes will begin by the end of 2024. Dr.
Drew also highlighted ongoing efforts in agriculture, aimed at reducing the Federation’s dependency on food imports. As understood, partnership with global hot sauce manufacturer Tabasco will allow local farmers to cultivate high-quality peppers for export, bringing additional jobs and revenue to the agricultural sector.
The Prime Minister further discussed major sustainability initiatives, including a two-million-gallon-per-day desalination plant, which will begin construction by the end of 2024, and the expansion of the Needmust Power Plant, which will create numerous jobs in both construction and permanent plant operations. “Our agricultural sector is also undergoing a transformation as we seek to reduce our dependency on imports and empower our local farmers,” Dr.
Drew said, outlining the importance of agriculture in the country’s broader economic strategy. He continued, “By adopting climate-smart practices, by protecting our marine ecosystems, and by reducing food waste, we are not just feeding ourselves, we are laying the groundwork for generations to come.” Dr.
Drew also stressed that while the government is leading the charge, success will require the participation of all sectors of society. “Government alone cannot drive this transformation. We need you to commit to diligent work and productivity, to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship.
We need our diaspora to be part of this transformation.” The Prime Minister reiterated the need for collective effort to realize the economic potential of St. Kitts and Nevis, saying: “The future belongs to us. Let us do it together.” The projects, he explained, are part of the government’s larger National Development Planning Framework, which seeks to shape the nation’s economy for the next 15 years.
Front Page Image: Used for illustration purposes only, this image shows a construction site worker on the job (Credit: Sofi.com)
