Millions to fight diabetes, hypertension

[admin]

Over $220 million.

That has been the cost to Barbados of combating diabetes and hypertension.

This was revealed by Prime Minister David Thompson on Thursday night at the launch of the Caribbean Conference on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCD) at Accra Beach Resort, Rockley, Christ Church. It is being held under the theme: A Healthy Caribbean 2008 – A Wellness Revolution Conference.

The Prime Minister said a study showed that as far back as 2001, the estimated costs related to diabetes in Barbados was US$37.8 million (BDS$ 75.6 million) and for hypertension US$72.7 million, (BD$145.4 million) and "these costs alone accounted to over five per cent of the island's Gross Domestic Product."

The Prime Minister noted that because of these figures, which were similar to the costs associated with chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) in other CARICOM islands, Heads of Government called for a Special Summit in Trinidad last year September in an effort to stem the epidemic by studying data and drawing up a Declaration to guide future actions in preventing and controlling CNCD's.

"You will therefore be pleased to hear that Barbados has been a leader in setting the agenda for the management of CNCD's by being the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish a National Commission for CNCD's.

"The Commission has been mandated to formulate sound policies and programmes to address these diseases, with emphasis on prevention. Out of the work of this Commission will come recommendations for legislation to tackle the threat posed by CNCD's," he said.

The three-day regional meeting, which ends Saturday, involving participants from more than 15 regional Governments, international agencies, medical practitioners, civil society and the business sector will deliberate with the objective to identify treatment, management, prevention and financing of activities for dealing with CNCD's and craft a strategic response to the problem will also be put into an action plan and provide the frame work for guiding national programmes within the CARICOM. (TM)