Health Priorities for the Eastern Caribbean

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Calls for Action on Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC—Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has called on health ministers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to ensure that chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD) are a priority for the health agenda in the subregion.

A Crusade Against CNCDs

Addressing the opening of the 10th OECS Council of Ministers of Health and the 37th Pooled Procurement Services board meeting in Portsmouth, north of here, on Monday night, Skerrit said regional countries must seek to deal effectively with CNCDs.

Skerrit said he has been on a “crusade” regarding CNDCs and “that if we thought that COVID was a major threat to us, I believe and, our economic viability. I believe we are spending too much time treating CNDCs rather than seeking to minimize, even not eliminate, contracting it, and therefore, we have to go back to the basics of primary health care”.

Primary Health Care

Skeritt said that as countries develop and the population gains much more access to funding, “they go to their private physicians and bypass health centers in the rural communities, where they could get equally the same health care at no cost to them.

“We have to find a way of reversing that attitude towards health care. Everybody rushes to the tertiary and secondary health care facilities…and there has to be greater advocacy, regionally and globally, on the importance of primary health care,” Skerrit told the ceremony.

A Global Challenge

He told the audience that “there is an emergency, globally, not only in the Caribbean, to fight CNDCs and to encourage wellness among citizens.

“The notion that the ministry of health of any OECS country can cure your ailment is wrongly placed. The Ministry of Health has a role to play, and the hospitals have a role to play, but we, as individuals and the wider society, have a role to take care of ourselves, and I believe more of that needs to be said to our citizens.

The OECS

The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla

Pooled Procurement of Medicines

The incoming chairman of the OECS Council of Ministers of Health, Dominica’s Cassani Laville, said the OECS’s Pooled Procurement of medicines has served the subgrouping well.

“We are confident that our collaboration will continue to strengthen moving forward. Small island Developing States benefit immensely from this facility as it enables fair and transparent procurement processes without straining our limited resources”.

Partnership with PAHO

He said the partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) allows for more significant development of the health systems in the subregion.

Related

Conclusion
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s call to action on chronic noncommunicable diseases is a pressing concern for the OECS region. As countries develop, it is crucial to prioritize primary health care and ensure that individuals take ownership of their health.

FAQs

What are chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs)?
CNCDs are a group of diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, that are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide.
What is the impact of CNCDs in the Caribbean?
CNCDs are a significant burden on healthcare systems and economies in the Caribbean, and often have a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income individuals and communities.
What are the potential solutions to address CNCDs?
Prioritizing primary health care, increasing education and awareness, and developing evidence-based health policies can help to reduce the prevalence of CNCDs.
What is the role of the OECS in addressing CNCDs?
The OECS has a crucial role to play in addressing CNCDs through joint efforts to develop healthcare systems, improve access to medicines, and promote health education and awareness.