Roadtown, Tortola - A population-based survey to learn about the commonness of risk factors associated with cancers, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other forms of chronic non-communicable diseases in the Virgin Islands, will officially begin next week.
In preparation for the official commencement of the six-week-long ‘STEPS Risk Factor Survey’ on Monday, 2 February over 20 interviewers are currently being trained by facilitators from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, the World Health Organisation, and the Pan American Health Organisation. The training, which began on Monday, will end tomorrow.
Addressing the opening of the training workshop Chief Medical Officer Dr. Irad Potter reminded the interviewers about the important role they have been tasked to perform during the data collection phase of the risk factor survey. “All of the persons who you will meet have either been directly affected or know of someone whom has been affected by a chronic non-communicable disease,” noted Dr. Potter.
The Chief Medical Officer also highlighted the permanent impact which chronic diseases have of the lives of patients, by stating that once a person has been diagnosed with a chronic illness the disease will always be a factor in that person’s life.
Ms. George reminded the public that the personal information collected would not be disclosed.
The STEPS Risk Factor Survey is being conducted in three separate steps. Step one will gather general information on risk factors including socio-demographic data along with information related to tobacco use and alcohol consumption.
Step two will study the physiological attributes of the human body that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases, while step three will measure fat and glucose levels which are among the leading contributing factors in chronic non-communicable diseases.
A total of 1,800 men and women between the ages of 25 and 64 will be randomly interviewed during the six-week survey.
The STEPS Risk factor Survey is being done through a collaborative effort that involves the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the BVI Social Security Board, the World Health Organisation, Pan American Health Organisation, and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre.
British Virgin Islands News