A three-day workshop will be held this week to explore the Health in All Policy approach and discuss how it can be applied to the BVI.

Coordinator of Health Promotions Services and the focal point for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), Ms. Ivy George said the Health in All Policy (HiAP) recognises that health is created by a multitude of factors beyond healthcare and in many cases beyond the scope of traditional public health activities.

Ms. George said participants will share experiences on developing an equity profile and develop a plan to strengthen multi-sectorial action. She added that the meeting is also expected to strengthen and increase the effectiveness of the NCD programme locally through a collaborative approach that integrates and articulates health considerations into policymaking across sectors.   

The Coordinator stated that non-communicable diseases are now the leading cause of the death regionally and they contribute to a steadily increasing burden of disease in the Virgin Islands.

“Most of these NCDs are preventable,” she said, adding, “They share modifiable risk factors including physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, use of tobacco and harmful use of alcohol.”

Ms. George further stated that HiAP is very vital to collectively lowering our vulnerability to non-communicable diseases because it allows stakeholders to work with other sectors to ensure health policies are integrated.

“In order for us to effectively reduce the impact of NCDs, action is required across all sectors to adopt a Health in All Policy approach,” she said.

The consultation will include an intersectorial meeting with members of the Health and Wellness Council and the Interdepartmental Technical Working Group and its subcommittee, visits with key departments and a meeting with top managers to present key findings and make recommendations for a way forward.

The session will be hosted by the Ministry of Health and Social Development in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Ministry of Health and Social Development has implemented a ten-year strategy to improve the health and well-being of the population and reduce the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases. The strategy prioritises prevention by integrating policies and action across multiple settings where people live, play and work to improve health and save lives.