PM Lauds National Strategic Health Plan
A monumental life stone in the Ministry...says Health Minister
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
 |
|
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas
|
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas has showered praises on the National Strategic Health Plan 2008-2012 initiative and his sentiments were echoed by Minister of Health Hon. Rupert Herbert, who noted it to be a monumental life-stone in his ministry.
The PM and Minister Herbert were at the time addressing participants at the launch of the 2008-2012 National Strategic Health Plan held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino on Thursday, November 6.
The Plan aims to guide the nation’s agenda to promote sustained and maintained optimal health of the federation’s current and future population.
Minister Herbert declared the launch of the Plan to be “a monumental life-stone in the Ministry of Health” and noted that progress was made in healthcare in the Federation.
“Significant progress has been made in health including access to healthcare, provision of affordable healthcare and an improvement in diagnostics. In developing countries there are the challenges of emerging diseases and re-emerging diseases, and the cost of healthcare has risen tremendously, so we cannot afford to simply rest on our laurels,” he warned.
“We must ensure the Plan remains a living document that is relevant to all stakeholders and advances the health agenda in St. Kitts and Nevis,” he added.
In his address, Dr. Douglas called the Plan a “key document that will inform and guide critical decision-making as well as policy development overall, as it is practical in its recommendations and flexible in order to accommodate evolving situations”.
He stressed the importance of health, stating that “it goes hand in hand with economic growth, development and productivity”.
“It is imperative that the health sector receives the attention that it requires. Attention must be paid to influencing lifestyle behaviour. I understand more than 70 percent of the Federation’s population is overweight and, unfortunately, this phenomenon has not escaped our children,” said Douglas. ~~Adz:Right~~
He noted that there is also a high prevalence of heart disease and hypertension, and that a lot of the incidences of these ailments are related to obesity, an inadequate diet and insufficient exercise.
“Hypertension affects 50 percent of Caribbean residents who are over 40 years old, whereas diabetes affects over 20 percent of these same people. More attention needs to be placed on preventative measures in order to reduce the financial burden associated with health care. This will require media support in order to create well-packaged messages for our people,” said the PM, who possesses the lead responsibility for Health in the Quasi-Cabinet of CARICOM.
“People should be conscious of the need to improve their health. We must adopt correct dietary practices and increase physical fitness for ourselves and our children. We must modify personal behaviour in such a manner to improve the potential for longer and productive lives.
“Let us commit to change in the interest of growth and prosperity for our proud Federation,” Douglas concluded.
