The Government of the Virgin Islands is making great strides towards achieving a healthier population since it signed the CARICOM Heads of Governments Port of Spain Declaration in 2007.

Coordinator of Health Promotions Services and National Focal Point for Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention, Ms. Ivy George said the declaration was signed in an effort to reduce chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) across the Caribbean.She stated that since then, a great deal of work has been carried out locally to reduce the impact of these NCD’s.

Ms. George said, “The BVI Health Services has just completed three sensitisation sessions for their medical and health staff as plans are underway to roll out a three year action plan to improve the quality of care for persons with chronic diseases with an emphasis on diabetes and hypertension.”

Ms. George stated that the Ministry of Health will also receive technical assistance to build compliance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 

“We have already set up a committee to amend the Tobacco Control Act and the Regulations to bring it more in line with the WHO Framework Convention Tobacco Control,” she added.

The coordinator highlighted the BVI’s partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), as assistance is being sought to build capacity in the ‘Health in All’ policy approach.  This approach she said will strengthen and support the work of the BVI Health and Wellness Council, the Interdepartmental Technical Working Group and its subcommittees.

Ms. George stated that more initiatives are being implemented as part of the Port of Spain Declaration including the strengthening of students’ health and the promotion of physical literacy and partnerships with faith-based organisations to develop a more structured health ministry system.

She said the ministry used the recommendations of the declaration to guide the implementation of the NCD ten-year strategy ‘Toward a Healthier Virgin Islands’ and as a result, the Territory was one of six countries selected by the University of the West Indies to be a part of a case study on the progress made since the 2007 declaration.

The coordinator is urging persons to drink responsibly and avoid binge drinking, increase physical activity as a means of promoting health and well-being, practice healthy eating habits, reduce salt and sugar intake, as well as being a self-manager to reduce the impact of chronic non-communicable diseases.

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.