Granger appointed Chair of Commission to tackle non-communicable diseases

Jan 27, 2017 News

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman announced yesterday that for the first

President David Granger

time in Guyana’s history, a President has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Commission for the National Commission for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
Trotman – who was deputising for the State Minister, Joseph Harmon – made this announcement at the Post-Cabinet Press Briefings yesterday at the Ministry of the Presidency, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and Regent Street, Georgetown.
He said also that the life of the Board will be for the period, from February 1, 2017 to January 31, 2019.
The Board will also comprise representatives from the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Social Protection: the Ministry of Communities; the Ministry of Business and Tourism; the Ministry of Agriculture; and the Ministry of Finance.
Representatives from various Governmental, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) and International Organisations will also be a part of the Board.
These entities include the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); the Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO); the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); the University of Guyana; the Inter-Religious Organisation; the Guyana Red Cross Society; Food for the Poor Incorporated; Consumer Protection Agency; Professional Health Association and the Rotary Club.
Minister Trotman said that the respective Ministries and agencies are expected to name their representatives soon.
“The fact that the President is the Chairman, tells the level of: one, his involvement; and two, the level of which Government will be approaching the whole matter of health and non-communicable diseases,”
A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a medical condition or disease that is not caused by infectious agents (non-infectious or non-transmissible). NCDs can refer to chronic diseases which last for long periods of time and progress slowly.
The four main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma – and diabetes.
The National Commission for the prevention and control of NCDs was launched by the previous administration back in 2013.
The commission was established to monitor the implementation of the National NCD Prevention and Control Strategy 2013-2020 and evaluate the impact of the diseases.
The commission was launched at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, with several leading health and government officials from the region, including Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, and further afield in attendance.
Meanwhile, Trotman during the news conference revealed also, that Cabinet during its meeting last Tuesday approved the Board of Directors in the health sector beginning with the GPHC.
He stated that the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, will make the necessary announcements shortly.