BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - REGIONAL leaders have raised concerns over the level of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that continue to affect persons living in the region, and they are looking to implement new measures to deal with them.
According to CARICOM Chairman Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, health-related issues continue to be of serious concerns for regional leaders as they stagnates the development of the region.
Speaking at the recently concluded 37th Regional Heads of Government Meeting, the Dominican Prime Minister told reporters that the levels of NCDs in CARICOM member states has raised a disturbing factor as the region draws near to the 10th Anniversary of the Uniting to Fight Non-Communicable Diseases.
He however pointed out that some progress was made over the years in the fight, but new plans are afoot to address the problem at a regional level.
“...we agreed to address the issue like banning, smoking in public places; trade related measures; banning the advertising of potentially harmful foods with which specifically target children and elevating taxes on foods high in sugar, salt and trans fat,” Skerritt disclosed.
St. Kitts and Nevis is one of the member states that continue to be affected by NCDs. Just earlier this year at the launching of a cancer walk, the Junior Minister in the Ministry of Health, Hon. Wendy Phipps, had called for more persons to take their health serious and to change their diet.
Meanwhile, regional leaders, during their Regular Meeting, endorsed ‘the Every Caribbean Girl, Every Caribbean Woman Initiative (ECGECW)’ that is intended to address critical sexual and reproductive health concerns of women in the Caribbean region.
“The objectives of the ECGECW are to reduce teenage pregnancy, prevent cervical cancer and eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV,” said Skerrit.
He noted that there is a need for increase advocacy in order to ensure that they maintain the low levels and end the epidemic in the region.
Citizens of the region must understand that they have a personal responsibility to maintain healthy lifestyles, Skerrit noted.
He lamented that the cost of treatment continues to affect leaders of various countries.
“The sheer cost of treating some of these NCDs is become prohibitive for Governments of the Caribbean, and therefore we have to be mindful of what we consume and the need for daily physical activities.”
