Controlling chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Saint Lucia is a recurring issue for the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Interventions by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to curb this trend is taking a new turn thanks to the World Bank. With USD$20 million in funding from the World Bank, the ministry hopes to complement its existing NCDs policy.

The first component of the project is aimed at strengthening and improving public primary healthcare services and facilities to treat NCDs. Preventative measures will be incorporated into the implementation.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Felix St Hill, noted that NCDs are treated and avoided through lifestyle management.

“We must be mindful that once persons have acquired the non-communicable disease then you have to treat it. But we are going to put much more emphasis on the avoidance of those diseases. So with the World Bank project, we are hoping that health promotion, health education and such services are distributed evenly, so that people are reassured through our nutritional and dietary services of the best lifestyles that they should keep.”

St Hill said that non-communicable diseases can be prevented by making better lifestyle choices like reducing the amount of alcohol consumed and eating well. At present, these types of ailments are costly and are treated outside of the primary health sector. St Hill said the new project will reduce the number of patients in the health system and reduce the cost of treatment for NCDs.

“Non-communicable diseases are affected by people’s lifestyles and can be avoided by making better lifestyle choices like reducing the amount of alcohol consumed and eating well. So it means that if you can take care of these at a primary level, you can avoid secondary and tertiary treatment.”

The project will focus on three components: improving service delivery through a sustainable benefits package; strengthening the responsiveness of public health systems to address non-communicable diseases; and managing public health emergencies.