Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 06, 2016 News
Chronic diseases, such as heart ailments, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory conditions and diabetes, are by far the leading cause of mortality in the world. In fact these represent 60 per cent of all deaths globally.
This is according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has made it clear that out of the 35 million people who died globally from chronic diseases in 2005, half were under 70 years of age and half were women.
WHO has pointed out too that “this invisible epidemic is an under-appreciated cause of poverty and hinders the economic development of many countries. But contrary to common perceptions about 80 per cent of chronic disease deaths occur in low and middle income countries,” WHO has further deduced.
But Guyana’s effort to tackle this evidently serious health challenge is one that, at present, requires immense human resource support.
This is in light of the fact that the Chronic Disease Unit of the Ministry of Public Health is currently being single-handedly run by Dr. Kavita Singh. This means that there is a glaring staff shortage to address the chronic disease situation within the Ministry.
Moreover, the Ministry has been making a passionate appeal for more staffing in this area.
However, reports out of the Ministry suggest that Dr. Singh has nevertheless been quite efficient in getting work in the Chronic Disease Unit done.
During the Ministry’s year-end review press conference last week, it was revealed that from June through December of last year, Dr. Singh was able to accomplish a number of activities within the Unit. Among these has been the supervisory assessment of the regional diabetic foot care centres in multiple regions including Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.
Dr. Singh was also instrumental in piloting the Chronic Disease Medical record and chronic care passport initiative at six sites. This, in essence, saw the training of health care workers on the use of the chronic disease medical record and the chronic care passport.
The Chronic Disease head also spearheaded workshops on sustainable development goals and facilitated a training session for the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. She was also the chief planner behind the Ministry’s observance of Caribbean Health and Wellness Week activities which entailed a street fair and school theatre performances in schools across Guyana.
The Unit, during the past year, also collaborated with Non Governmental Organisations – the Organisation for Social, Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAG) and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) to conduct Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) screening during Cancer Awareness month in October.
The collaboration also saw a community forum at the University of Guyana’s Tain campus on breast and cervical cancer and a candlelight vigil, health fair and cancer walk in Skeldon.
The Unit was also integrally involved in diabetes month activities last November which included screening in the work place, a diabetes walk, television programme on diabetes and its complications. In addition, Continuing Medical Education was conducted on diabetes and advancement in treatment care supported by the Unit. The Unit also aided the development of an Action Plan for Cancer Control in Guyana and helped develop a National Chronic Disease Implementation Plan and Diabetes Youth Camp.
With Dr. Singh at the helm of the Chronic Disease Unit, the formation of a Steering Committee was realized and, according to reports out of the Ministry, training sessions to help set the pace for the Committee are slated to commence in this regard this month,
While recent data were not forthcoming, it was revealed that a chronic disease registry was in place in 2011, and revealed that close to 7,000 persons living with diabetes have been registered. This registry is one that was designed to inform the Health Ministry on whether or not these persons are on treatment.
Data for the year 2006 indicated that ischemic heart disease accounted for 12.1 percent of deaths in Guyana, while vascular disease accounted for 10 percent, diabetes 8.8 per cent, cancer 8.1 percent, hypertensive diseases 4.7 percent, heart failure 3.4 percent and HIV accounted for 5.9 percent of the deaths in Guyana.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 24, 2024
Round 2 GFF Women’s League Division One Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Police Force FC on Saturday last demolished Pakuri Jaguars FC with a 17 – 0 goal blitz at the Guyana Football...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]