2008-2012 National Strategic Health Plan launched

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HYPOCHONDRIACS can now breathe easier, as the launch of the National Strategic Health Plan 2008-2012 at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino on Thursday, November 6 is indicative that health will be placed consistently on the front burner of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Plan is the first documented comprehensive health plan in the nation’s history, besides the existing plan for HIV/AIDS, and aims to fulfil the Federation’s obligations under the Millennium Development Goals and the Caribbean Health Promotion Charter.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Elvis Newton noted that the Plan is reflective of the national realities specific to health and includes involvement by local and regional stakeholders.

“A healthy population is an essential prerequisite for future economic growth and the social advancement and stability of our country. This is a reality none of us can ignore and the Plan is an attempt to respond to such a reality,” he said.

According to Health Planner Andrew Skerritt, the Plan is divided into seven priority areas: Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs), Nutrition and Physical Activity, Family Health and Health Systems Development, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, HIV/AIDS and STIs, Health and the Environment and Human Resource Development.

He added that a planning committee and working groups for each priority area were established with the mandate to develop strategic plans for the respective priority areas. He also stated that there were two internal review sessions to ensure that the Plan remained federal in scope.

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The Plan consists of three chapters; the first deals with advancing health and the social, political and economic determinants of health; the second addresses the challenges pertaining to each priority area; and the third looks ahead at implementation of these priority areas.

Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration Hon. Hensley Daniel put his support behind the Plan, declaring that he would ensure it is measured through monitoring and evaluation.

“We hope longevity improves by 20 years; we don’t want this Plan to be just a well-written document. There is a connection between health and development, because if we want to promote the Federation as an up-market tourist destination it is absolutely necessary to maintain a high standard of health care. Visitors will shy away from a country where they assume there is some health risk,” he warned.

He further stated that funds for training must be developed so that young people are induced to go into the health sector, and assured that the Federation has the political, community and family-will to make the Plan a reality.