BASSETERRE ST. KITTS (January 20, 2009) -- The Federal Ministry of Health is in the process of acquiring four automatic blood pressure devices that will be placed at strategic locations to facilitate self detection and monitoring of blood pressure by members of the general public.
This was disclosed Tuesday by Dr Hazel Williams-Roberts, the director of community-based health services, when she received a cheque of US$7,160 from the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis at the bank’s headquarters in Basseterre. The money will be used to purchase two of the devices.
“We are very excited about the initiative,” said Dr Williams-Roberts. “It is the first time we are trying something with this level of innovation and we really hope that it will bring the benefits that we anticipate to see.”
She explained that the machines, which are colour-coded and easy to use, will be placed at strategic places with a high density of human traffic, like the Post Office, where there is an assurance that people are coming and going regularly, explaining that for the machines to have a meaningful impact they need to be used.
In a communication to the bank last December, to seek the funds, the Ministry had informed that “Chronic non-communicable diseases are among the major contributors for morbidity and mortality in the Federation. The available data reveals that elevated blood pressure is not uncommon in our population and often goes undetected.
“Accordingly, in 2009 the Ministry in collaboration with interested stakeholders will implement a project which focuses on the placement of automatic blood pressure devices in strategic locations. The principal purpose is to facilitate self detection and monitoring of blood pressure by the general public.”
While handing over the cheque on Tuesday, Support Officer in the Human Resource and Marketing Department Ms Coralee Benjamin said that “Given the Bank’s focus on empowerment of the populace, which is consistent with the principles of this project, which aims to empower communities and individuals to be more responsible for their health, the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis is pleased to partner with the Ministry of Health, Social and Community Development and Gender Affairs, in contributing towards the procurement of two of four machines, and the initial accessories.”
Dr Hazel Williams-Roberts further explained that education will go along with the placement of the devices. “We envision what we call a ‘know your number’ campaign that goes along with the installation of these machines. We will educate the general public about the seriousness of elevated blood pressure, and how these machines can help them to self monitor and screen so that they can go to a health care provider.”
The Ministry, she pointed out, will embark on a mass media campaign to sensitise the public, not just about the blood pressure devises, but about the importance of monitoring the blood pressure and the implications of elevated blood pressure. The country, she concluded, will only get optimum utilisation of the machines if the public is properly sensitised.
