St Kitts and Nevis: St Kitts and Nevis is all set to celebrate the 2023 Global Week of Action on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) from September 14 to 21, 2023. Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew made the announcement and said that the theme of the event is “Bridging the Care Gap”.
In his regular episode of Issues SKN, PM Drew addressed the nation and said that the country will celebrate the week every year, aiming to bring attention to NCD prevention and control. He added that his administration will continue to invest the necessary resources into the country’s NCD response.
With the campaign, the government aims to disseminate the message “now is the moment for caring”, “now is the moment to act on Universal Health Coverage,” ensuring that everyone has access to care regardless of their ability to pay.
PM Terrance Drew said that the Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases are major health challenges globally, regionally, and locally.
He said that the government is aimed to send the message to NGO, all stakeholders, private entities and other hospital staffs to adopt stringent approach against NCDs.
The prime focus of the celebration is to treat NCD on the urgent basis for good health. PM Drew said,”NCDs are accounted for more than 70 percent deaths worldwide. In St Kitts and Nevis, NCDs are the leading cause of the deaths. It is the big health challenge and we must combat it now.”
He said that healthcare should be accessible to all and everyone in the Federation should have access to the health facilities without any financial hardships. University Health Coverage is one of the priorities of the government of St Kitts and Nevis.
“Our government in collaboration with Pan American Health Orgnisation (PAHO) and experts is working on the establishment of the proper management of the NCDs treatments. Implementation of any proper facility is one such solution which can combat challenges such as NCD,”said the prime minister.
The Ministry of Health has been taking comprehensive approach toward the fight against NCD. The aim is:
- Reduce the NCDs by promoting healthy lifestyle
- Reduce the prevalence of the Common Risk Factors
- Provide integrate evidence treatment for the prevention of the NCDs.
