The National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Committee has convened a high-level stakeholder consultation to address the rising mortality linked to NCDs and their risk factors. The consultation aims to foster collaboration and strengthen national strategies for NCD prevention and control.
The event at the Finance Administrative Centre, Pointe Seraphine brings together key stakeholders to engage in knowledge sharing and explore a whole-of-society approach to combating NCDs.
The consultation seeks to improve the visibility of the Ministry of Health’s efforts in addressing NCDs, raise awareness of their significant impact on morbidity and mortality, and strengthen community-based initiatives through partnerships with athletic clubs and other organisations.
Senior Medical Officer for NCDs, Dr Shana Cyr-Philbert, highlighted the importance of a coordinated approach in addressing the issue: “We can only tackle non-communicable diseases through a holistic approach which is sustainable. This can only happen through multisectoral coordination. Today, we will explore the Ministry of Health’s role in limiting diseases, the limitations, NCD trends and NCD risk factors. We will also embrace the approach to disease prevention which has been proven to work.”
Additionally, the forum promotes collaboration in the rollout of initiatives such as Saint Lucia Moves, the Community-Based Programme (CBP), and Know Your Numbers, while enhancing participation from NGOs, workplaces, and wider communities in mitigating risk factors like sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs, Ernest Norbal, reinforced the necessity of collaboration, noting, “Collaboration is necessary for the implementation of policies, programmes, and interventions which will promote access to healthy foods, adequate physical activities, and lifestyle choices, especially for the most vulnerable in society.”
Highlighting the importance of public engagement and lifestyle changes, Physical Education Sports Specialist Selva Wilson stressed the importance of having people help combat the challenges faced with persons with NCDs and those who do not know that they have NCDs.
“If we can get the message out there, I figure more persons will be informed and it would be a great attempt in getting persons to make that lifestyle change,” Wilson said.
