BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH officials in the health sector making continuous pleas for citizens and residents to take their health seriously, the Federation continues to see increasing numbers of Non-Communicable Diseases (NDCs).
Just recently at the opening of the Oncology Unit at the JNF General Hospital Junior Minister with Responsibility for Health, Hon. Wendy Phipps pointing out that there is an 83% NCD rate in St. Kitts and Nevis, with approximately 45% of those cases being cancer.
That is an average of just over 50% of the NCD cases being cancer diagnosis.
According to Senior Minister of Health, Hon. Eugene Hamilton their Health Promotion Unit needs to do more in the area of public education.
During a recent interview with reporters, he disclosed that they recently appointed a new director to that agency, which in 2017 would step up wellness promotions to highlight the importance of eating right and exercising.
This body is also expected to promote early screening so that “we can have early interdiction”, Hamilton noted.
“The challenge that we face is that people normally, especially men, don’t like to go the doctor and then it is only when something happens and it is too late that we reach the doctor. The truth is that we in St. Kitts and Nevis are lucky that we have 17 Health Centers across the country.”
NCDs such as obesity in children and adults, hypertension and heart disease are a just some of the ailments that on a consistent basis affect the local populace, but they are not limited to the St. Kitts and Nevis.
Earlier this year at the CARICOM Heads of Government Summit in Guyana, regional leaders had discussed that as one of their major focal points of their meeting.
According to a communiqué issued by CARICOM, there is a need to unite to fight Non-Communicable Diseases, as they recognized the progress made in addressing such issues.
They however contend that more needs to be done to adopt a more stringent approach in dealing with the problem.
In this regard, they pledged to address issues “such as the banning of smoking in public places; trade-related measures; banning advertisements of potentially harmful foods, which specifically target children; and elevating taxes on foods high in sugar, salt and trans-fats”.
Asked if the Government is looking at implementing more stringent approaches in relation to trans-fat foods and the importation of cigarettes in light of the growing NCD problem locally, Minister Hamilton explained that high taxes have been imposed on some commodities.
“The Government actually have not prohibited cigarettes importation, but what we do is tax it very heavily, including things like alcohol. To cease the importation of certain things would take public engagement. But you know we can always increase the taxes on these things, but they are already at high levels.”
Additionally, he stressed that the Government would have to look at flexible hours for its Health Centers so that persons working at the Industrial Site could have access to treatment and care if the need arises.
“I am aware that many of our young ladies in particular work on places like the Industrial Site from early in the morning to late afternoons, and by the time they leave they are all closed.”
The Minister noted that many of them leave their homes as early as 6:00 a.m. and return in the evening, while the Centers do not open in most instances until 8:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m.
