Region discusses continued health cooperation

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Right~~ BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – REGIONAL partners are meeting in Barbados from November 4 to 6 to discuss a framework for the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH) Phase III.

According to Caribbean Net News, Barbados Minister of Health Dr. David Estwick said there have been significant strides in the integration of resources to enhance technical cooperation among CARICOM member countries since the adoption of the first CCH in 1986.

The first CCH framework sought to promote collaborative action to solve critical health problems at a regional level rather than by individual country action. The eight priority programme areas identified for CCH III are CNCDs, Communicable Diseases including HIV/AIDS, Environmental Health, Family Health, Food and Nutrition, Health Systems Development, Manpower Development and Mental Health.

Estwick noted that functional cooperation had been a commonplace practitioner among CARICOM countries for many years and he health sector had been a pioneer in this regard.

“The regional objectives of full economic empowerment of CARICOM nationals and the creation of sustainable job opportunities for citizens cannot be realised if our population fails to enjoy complete physical, mental, social, environmental and spiritual health,” he said.

In the last 40 years life expectancy in the English-speaking Caribbean has risen by 15.3 years. By 2025 the elderly population in the region is expected to comprise an estimated 10.4 percent of the total population.

However, according to Estwick, the aging population has also been accompanied by a rise in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs).

He added that children and adolescents are coming of age in a fast-moving world of shifting values and changing traditions.

“They are exposed through multiple media resources to the lure of risky behavioural practices associated with substance abuse, violence and early sexual activity.

“Exposure to HIV is one of the consequences of this behaviour. Coupled with this, CNDCs are being developed in school-aged children. Many of our youths are showing a preference for low nutritional value, high fat, high calorie foods and sedentary pastimes.”