Government increases efforts to control chronic diseases

Roadtown, Tortola - The Ministry of Health and Social Development has stepped up its efforts to prevent and control chronic diseases such as stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, and mental illness in the Virgin Islands (UK).

Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn OBE, QC gave confirmation of this during the launch of the Chronic Disease Task Force yesterday morning.

“In addition to the work that the BVI Health Services Authority is doing, the ministry has appointed a dedicated focal point to deal with chronic non-communicable diseases,” she said. Health Education Officer Ms. Ivy George is the holder of that new position, the Minister noted.

Along with the new Chronic Disease Task Force, Ms. George will liaise with local, regional and international health agencies to advance Government’s work of preventing and controlling incidents of chronic non-communicable diseases in the Territory.

Honourable Penn also announced that Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Development, has applied for membership in CARMEN (The Conjuncto de Acciones para la Reduccion Multifactorial de Enfermedades No Transmisibles), which is an initiative of the countries of the Americas and the Pan American Health Organisation to promote the integrated prevention of non-communicable diseases throughout the region.

Chairman of the Chronic Disease Task Force Dr. the Honourable Vincent Scatliffe said the group’s focus is to bring to the attention of the wider community the growing problem of chronic diseases and to initiate a territorial response. “The task force comprises 16 members from a cross-section of the community who will form working groups to carry out a series of consultations to obtain information and support for the development and implementation of policies and programmes to reduce the burdens of chronic diseases and their impact on our community,” he said.

Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Scatliffe noted, chronic diseases are not inevitable results of growing old. “Studies have shown in most cases chronic diseases are the result of our behaviours and common practices that over time significantly increase our risk for one or more of these chronic conditions,” he said.

The objectives of the Task Force for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases include mobilising a territorial response to combating chronic diseases, conducting a situational analysis of chronic diseases in the Virgin Islands (UK), to assess the current profile of the population, and to advocate for a chronic non-communicable disease programme in the Ministry of Health and Social Development that emphasises prevention and control of chronic diseases.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide leadership that promotes health, social wellbeing, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development of the Virgin Islands (UK).