Commission to tackle non-communicable diseases in Barbados
By Tony Cumberbatch
Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) are major public
health problems throughout the developed world and have now become even more
serious concerns in many areas of the developing world. The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that CNCDs account for 59 per cent of deaths
globally and almost half, 49.5 per cent, of the global burden of disease.
Already 77% of CNCD deaths occur in developing countries. High and rising rates
of CNCD deaths have also been reported for Barbados and other countries in the
Caribbean.
It is against this background that the Government of
Barbados set up a National Task Force on CNCDs, 2002 – 2004, which produced a
policy document for the prevention and control of CNCDs. Among the
recommendations were:
The establishment of a Health Promotion Unit.
The establishment of the post of Senior Medical Officer of
Health (CNCDs).
The establishment of a National Commission on CNCDs.
The launching of the commission follows the International
Consultation on a Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable
Diseases for Barbados that was held at the Savannah Hotel in Barbados in April
2005. It was announced by the Minister of Health, Dr. Jerome Walcott on Friday
January 26 2007 in the Ministry of Health’s Board Room to a gathering of
doctors, health professionals and members of the press.
The Minister also took the opportunity to say that the
Cabinet of Barbados has designated this year, 2007, as the “National Year for
the Promotion of Good Health and Wellness”. The main purpose of this designation
is to focus national attention on healthy lifestyle behaviours, and help
individuals make small but impactful changes to their daily eating and physical
activity routine in order to improve their overall health status
Dr. Walcott noted that the Commission draws on the expertise
and disciplines of a broad-based section of society with specific emphasis on
intersectoral collaboration. Members include businessmen, physicians and other
health professionals, a trade unionist and educators. It is chaired by
cardiologist Professor Trevor Hassell, and deputy chairman is Professor Henry
Fraser.
Professor
Hassell (pictured left) was, until his recent retirement, the Director of
Medical Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, having completed a
distinguished career of almost 42 years with that institution. He was a founding
member of the Heart Foundation of Barbados now the Heart & Stroke Foundation of
Barbados (HDFB), and led the Foundation as President over its first 10 years. He
is the Foundation’s Immediate Past President and currently serves as President
of the InterAmerican Heart Foundation and Vice-President of the World Heart
Federation.
Other members of the Commission are: Shephanie Bryan, Zonia
Phillips, David Neilands, Orlando Scott, Harold Hoyte, Noel Brathwaite, Wendy
Griffith-Watson, Barton Clarke, Adrian Randall, Elliott Douglin, Jackie King,
Adisa Andwele and Wilfred Beckles.
“The distribution of disease over the last century has
changed from infections and communicable disease to that of non-communicable
disease” said the Minister. He pointed out that CNCDs, which include diabetes
mellitus, hypertension, obesity, stroke, cardiovascular diseases and some
cancers, now kill more people worldwide than malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and
several other infectious diseases combined.
Lack of physical activity, negative dietary influences,
tobacco smoking, and life stresses all contribute to large numbers of the
population being diagnosed with these disorders
The Barbados situation is not dissimilar to that for
developed countries, where, for instance, 64 per cent of adult females and 54
per cent of adult males are overweight/obese, with the concomitant risk of
developing diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease and stroke.
The
setting up of the Commission was particularly pleasing to the Heart & Stroke
Foundation of Barbados (HSFB), as, according to Adrian Randall (pictured left),
Chief Executive Officer of the HSFB, and himself a member of the CNCD
Commission, “the goals of the Commission are similar to the mission of the HSFB,
that is ‘to keep people heart healthy and reduce suffering and death from heart
disease and stroke.’”
"I am delighted that the Heart & Stroke Foundation has been
suitably recognised by the invitation to me as CEO to be a member of the
National CNCD Commission” said Mr. Randall. “The establishment of the commission
to address the problems associated with chronic non-communicable disease (CNCD)
is one for which the Ministry of Health and the Minister in particular are to be
highly praised.”
Noting that the National CNCD commission’s mandate as set
out by Dr. Jerome Walcott at its launch is ‘To develop and promote well-planned
strategies for the control of CNCDs, with specific emphasis on an intersectoral
and multidisciplinary approach’, Mr. Randall added said that the mandate relates
very well to the general aims and objectives of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of
Barbados and especially to those set out in this year’s annual operating plans,
which are:
• A significant decrease in the incidence of heart disease
and stroke
• The provision of a heart disease and stroke information centre
• A significant contribution to reducing the adverse consequences of heart
disease and stroke
• The most effective advocate possible towards the realisation of our Mission
The most internationally recognized predisposing causes of CNCDs are tobacco
use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, stress and harmful psychological
influences – at home, in society and in the workplace. The Commission on CNCDs
is expected to put in place efficient systems to estimate the disease burden,
identify the determinants of health behaviours and develop health policies to
address a population-based approach to disease prevention.
Some of these are:
• To conduct research to identify the root causes of the
stresses that lead to unhealthy behaviours and harmful health choices. Stress is
linked to the chronic diseases and the workplace has been identified as a major
source of stress
• National policies must aim at reduction of social
inequalities that in turn lead to health inequalities.
• To formulate a food and nutrition policy that will address
the region’s major health problems. National and regional agricultural and food
policies that place diet and nutrition at the centre of the public health
equation are urgently needed.
• To develop and implement strategies for providing adequate
funding for NCD risk reduction.
• To develop and adopt policies that will lead to the
implementation of the “Healthy Schools” initiative. The school has been
identified as one of the key institutions where healthy practices can be
inculcated.
It is hoped that in addition to being a “pilot” project the
Chronic Non-communicable Disease Commission would become a “demonstration” model
for Caribbean and other developing countries undertaking similar projects.
Professor
Hassell (pictured left) was, until his recent retirement, the Director of
Medical Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, having completed a
distinguished career of almost 42 years with that institution. He was a founding
member of the Heart Foundation of Barbados now the Heart & Stroke Foundation of
Barbados (HDFB), and led the Foundation as President over its first 10 years. He
is the Foundation’s Immediate Past President and currently serves as President
of the InterAmerican Heart Foundation and Vice-President of the World Heart
Federation. 
The
setting up of the Commission was particularly pleasing to the Heart & Stroke
Foundation of Barbados (HSFB), as, according to Adrian Randall (pictured left),
Chief Executive Officer of the HSFB, and himself a member of the CNCD
Commission, “the goals of the Commission are similar to the mission of the HSFB,
that is ‘to keep people heart healthy and reduce suffering and death from heart
disease and stroke.’” 
