The Ministry of Health is training its ‘Wellness Warriors’ to raise awareness in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the five-day training workshop, which began on Monday, was organised in the run up to Caribbean Wellness Day, which is to be observed on September 12.
The launch of the workshop took place at Ramphal House, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, where Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran reminded the trainees that many countries and international organisations have identified the epidemic of NCDs as the most serious emerging health threat over the past seven years.
Dr Ramsaran, in his address, told the trainees that NCDs are found in four main categories: cardiovascular disease, which accounts for 17.3 million deaths annually and is the most for NCDs; cancers, which are responsible for 7.6 million deaths; respiratory disease, which is responsible for 4.2 million deaths; and diabetes, which accounts for 1.3 million. In total, these four categories account for approximately 80% of all NCD deaths.
While some factors, such as age and ethnicity, which make some persons more susceptible to NCDs than others, cannot be addressed, the miniter noted that health and wellness can be promoted through education, social support groups and other aspects. It is with this approach, GINA stated, the Minister has enlisted the Wellness Warriors.
In addition, the minister hopes, “to get a massive army of people who know to perform basic tasks, example pressure and sugar testing in every part of society. Also, they will have a strong health literacy component.”
Present at the launch of the workshop, Dr Ertenisa Hamilton, Principal Health Coordinator and Dr Kavita Singh, Chronic Diseases Coordinator at the Ministry. Dr Singh told the participants that although NCDs for the most part cannot be cured, they can be prevented and controlled, and the Wellness Warrior Programme is expected to take up that charge to the community.
An invaluable component of this battle, Dr Ramsaran said, will be the launching of a Presidential Commission on NCDs, patterned after Guyana’s successful HIV/AIDS Commission. This launching will be a part of the Caribbean Wellness Day celebration on September, 12 and Dr Carissa Etienne of the Pan American Health Organisation is expected to be in attendance. The Ministry will also host a wellness camp on September 13, at the Square of the Revolution.
