Nevis Cultural Center, CHARLESTOWN, Tuesday,December 13, 2009 - Hypertension and Diabetes continue to be the leading causes of death in Nevis, according to statistics revealed by the island’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Judy Nisbett.
Dr. Nisbett made this pronouncement when she disseminated Nevis’s Health Statistical Report for the year 2008 at a workshop held yesterday (Dec. 15) at the Nevis Cultural Centre. She said of the 497 registered diabetics, 28 were new cases, and of the 433 registered hypertensive patients, 10 were new cases. .
She said there were more females suffering from diabetes than males.
The report was released in the midst of calls from participants at the workshop that mental health be given special attention. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Martin alerted workshop participants that violence-related injuries continue to increase.
Also highlighted by the Director of Institutional Nursing Services, Mrs. Aldris Pemberton, was that another private home would soon have to be built in Nevis as families were taking too many elderly persons to the Flamboyant Nursing Home, located at the Alexandra Hospital.
She said there were 343 persons hospitalized at the Alexandra Hospital in 2007 due to violence-related injuries and 383 in the following year.
Cancer deaths, according to the situation analysis, increased by 30 percent while communicable diseases decreased by 50 percent.
HIV/AIDS statistics contained in the 2008 Report revealed that there were three new cases of HIV reported in the year under review, bringing the accumulated number of cases since the first detected case to 62. According to the statistics, 15 individuals are currently on antiretroviral treatment.
Situation analysis statistics disseminated by Dr. Martin indicates that Cancer and Teenage Pregnancy are on the increase on Nevis.
The 2008 Report cites major achievements made in the island’s health sector. According to the island’s Health Statistician, Shelisa Martin, during the 2008 fiscal year, the Ministry was allocated EC$14M to carry out its mandate to provide health care for the populace.
The Health Statistician noted the 2008 Health Report states that there was an increase of Antenatal Clinics at all health centres. However, great strides were made in Oral Health, as the number of visits by children rose from 834 in 2005 to 2031 in 2008. Adults visits rose from 2035 in 2005 to 2224 in 2008.
Life Expectancy, according to Dr. Martin, increased from 70 years in 2003 to 73 years in 2006. The estimated population increased by 3.9 percent in the period under review.
Dr. Martin said the major work ahead included financing health care, a universal benefits plan, reduction of personal bankruptcy, reduction of burden on treasury and restriction of the National Health Authority.
He said Legislation was needed in matters to do with environmental health, pharmacies, mental health and laboratory services.
Also needed is a patient charter, continuing education credits, environmental safety and food safety, cancer registry, wellness revolution especially in men, active ageing, violence and injury prevention, anger managent, conflict resolution and substance abuse demand reduction.
Present at the dissemination workshop were senior Ministry of Health officials and stakeholders including St. Kitts' Minister of Health Hon. Rupert Herbert; Permament Secretary in the Ministry of Health ,St. Kitts, Elvis Newton; Nevis' Minister of Health Hon. Hensley Daniel; his Permanent Secretary Joslyn Liburd; Mrs. Eren Hanley, Director of Statistics and Economic Planning; and Health Advisor Patricia Hanley.
Workshop Coordinator Nicole Slack Liburd said the statistics would enable the Ministry of Health to implement evidence-based health programmes.
