Scale Up Response to NCD Threats

Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis Tackles Noncommunicable Diseases

St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis

With Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and their complications still regarded as significant contributors to deaths in St. Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, is challenging health practitioners, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector to work collaboratively in an effort to accelerate interventions to combat the NCD challenge.

Global Week of Action on Noncommunicable Diseases

Prime Minister Dr. Drew made this clarion call in his address to mark the annual observance of the Global Week of Action on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), which runs from October 15-22, 2024, under the tagline “The Time to Lead is Now”.

NCD Statistics in St. Kitts and Nevis

Dr. Drew highlighted that diabetes, hypertension, and their complications are the leading causes of illness in the Federation. He shared startling statistics that showed that over 80 percent of deaths in St. Kitts and Nevis were attributed to NCDs between 2017 and 2021.

Government’s Response to NCDs

“These diseases are our biggest public health problem and the time to lead is now!” Prime Minister Dr. Drew asserted. “As a physician and as the Minister of Health and Prime Minister, I am convinced that the time to scale up the NCD response is now. The Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis at-large, is investing its resources and adopting a comprehensive approach to accelerate the NCD response.”

Action Plan to Combat NCDs

The government’s wide-ranging response to the growing threat of NCDs includes:

Prevention
Screening
Early detection
Aggressive management using evidence-based treatment options to reduce the onset of more severe and debilitating complications like strokes and heart attacks

Local Response

The local response in the fight against noncommunicable diseases entails the implementation of the Global HEARTS Programme in health centres throughout the Federation. The Global HEARTS Programme is aimed at strengthening the prevention and control of hypertension, diabetes, and their complications like heart attacks and heart failure.

Conclusion

The fight against NCDs is real and getting worse because our population is ageing. Prime Minister Dr. Drew emphasized that public health interventions, among others, are ongoing and should be accelerated by local authorities.

FAQs

What is the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis doing to combat NCDs?
The Prime Minister is challenging health practitioners, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector to work collaboratively in an effort to accelerate interventions to combat the NCD challenge.
What are the leading causes of illness in the Federation?
Diabetes, hypertension, and their complications are the leading causes of illness in the Federation.
What is the government’s response to the growing threat of NCDs?
The government is investing its resources and adopting a comprehensive approach to accelerate the NCD response, including prevention, screening, early detection, and aggressive management using evidence-based treatment options.
What is the Global HEARTS Programme?
The Global HEARTS Programme is aimed at strengthening the prevention and control of hypertension, diabetes, and their complications like heart attacks and heart failure.