Grenada says its real challenge is transforming its health sector from a curative to a preventive-based system

NEW YORK, September 22, 2011 - Non-communicable Diseases constitute a major public challenge for all countries, developed and developing alike.

And, according to Grenada’s Health Minister Anne Peters, Grenada, like many other CARICOM countries, recognizes the growing threat, posed by NCDs on its small, fragile economy and the need to take decisive action to reduce the burden of the disease and protect the sustainable development of the country in the future.

The Grenadian Minister told the General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases that Grenada believes that primary prevention and promotion are the most cost -effective, equitable and sustainable strategies to fight NCDs.

“In this regard, Grenada approved a new policy framework for the revitalization of primary health care. We have adopted a multi-agency approach to addressing CNCDs. We have established the National Chronic Diseases Commission; comprising representatives from a range of sectors including health, education, agriculture, youth, sports, private sector, NGOs, churches and the media to advise on strategies to reduce risk factors of NCDs,” she said.

The Minister said that Grenada has implemented the Chronic Care Passport, a healthy lifestyle initiative, which is aimed at providing a method for the systematic monitoring and evaluation of patients with chronic diseases and the empowerment of patients to take charge of their health.

She said that a national CNCD’s Risk Factor Survey (STEPS) was concluded to support the planning of health promotion and prevention campaigns.

The Health Minister said the real challenge for Grenada lies in transforming its health sector from a curative to a preventive-based system; and implementing reform in the midst of a global economic crisis and escalating costs of medical care.

She said greater effort is needed to influence the global food industry to join the fight against NCDs.

And she said Grenada believes that the United Nations can play a more important role in that respect.