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News : Grand Bahama Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Minister of Grand Bahama on World Health Month‏
Apr 7, 2016 - 3:02:10 PM

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Remarks for Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, M.P. Minister of Health on The occasion of the World Health Day Opening Ceremony to Grand Bahama Health Services on Thursday, April 7th, 2016 at 10:30 A.M:

I bring greetings on behalf of my cabinet colleague the Hon Dr. Perry Gomez, Minister of Health who is unable to be here this morning due to official government business abroad.

Today, ladies and gentlemen, we observe World Health Day; and I am pleased to commend Grand Bahama Health Services, the sole entity to coordinate activities each year for this occasion since 1986.

This year’s theme is focused on Diabetes, an in recognition of this chronic progressive metabolic disorder characterised by elevated blood sugars (hyperglycaemia), mainly due to absolute deficiency of insulin hormone in the body. The World Health Organisation has estimated that more than three hundred and forty six million (346,000,000) million people worldwide are stricken with this disease.

Ladies and gentlemen, in Grand Bahama and the surrounding Cays, the burden of Diabetes is immense and continues to be a major cost to the public healthcare system throughout the country. In fact, in 2015, there were three hundred and seventy five (375) adult patients with diabetes admitted to and discharged from the Rand Memorial Hospital. Several patients had more than one admission during the same year; bringing the total number of admissions to five hundred and thirty three (533).

On the other hand, there has been a steady decline in the number of admissions of juvenile diabetic patients due to Diabetes related complications. Diabetes has dropped from the fifth (5th) leading cause of admission in 2014, to the 7th leading cause in 2015; and the majority of admissions were directly related to non-compliance with medication or diet. The year 2012 documented the highest number of readmissions to the Paediatric Ward resulting from Diabetic Ketoacidosis. The number of recurrent admissions decreased in 2015 with only three patients with more than three admissions compared to four in 2013. This is good news!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am advised that the greatest challenge encountered by the team is that the majority of the patients are now pre-adolescent or adolescents and issues associated with adolescent development are posing a significant impact on their management of Diabetes.

Ladies and gentlemen, due to the overwhelming burden of this debilitating disease, the Grand Bahama Health Services sought to strengthen the administration of the programme with prevention measures, early diagnosis and management in the following ways:

1. Increasing access to primary care in January, 2015, with the implementation of the extended clinic hours at Eight Mile Rock Clinic, and commencement of the Freeport General Practice Clinic at the Rand Memorial Hospital.

2. Commencing the Freeport Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Clinic at Pearce Plaza in January, 2015, which allows for education and improvement in self-management.

3. The Launch of the Chronic Disease Passport in November, 2015, for persons with chronic non communicable diseases such as Diabetes. This health tracker helps to empower persons to live healthier, be more knowledgeable and monitor control of their disease. As a result of these initiatives, an additional 1,000 persons were seen for Diabetes care in the Community Clinics in 2015, as compared to 2014.

4. The introduction of the Paediatric Diabetic Clinic, which has a comprehensive multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals providing care.

5. The establishment and implementation of the first Paediatric Diabetic Support Group on April 1, 2016; which is geared toward the advice and support of children living with Types 1&2 Diabetes, and their families.

6. Continuous education via inter-school competitions, and conferences organised by the institution’s World Diabetes Month Committee. Just last year the local Conference was the first to receive BMC accreditation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, research clearly demonstrates that a large percentage of Diabetes cases are preventable. Simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. Maintaining normal body weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk of Diabetes. The Healthy Lifestyle Unit of Grand Bahama Health Services, I am told, continues steadfastly to partner with Government and non-Government organisations to promote these health beneficial behaviours.

To further enhance their drive to increase awareness of this debilitating disease and to stimulate positive results in the desired outcomes, commencing April, 2016, the Grand Bahama Health Services team intends to reintroduce nutritional services and dietary consultations, in order to provide more nutritional education in each of the Community Clinics in Grand Bahama and Cays on a monthly basis. They have also resolved to train Community Health Workers to assist in promoting the messages of health and wellbeing in each of their communities and schools.

In closing, I wish to take this opportunity to commend the planning Committee, the CNCD team, and the entire staff body for their outstanding contribution to ensuring that the people of the northern Bahamas who are affected by this disease are exposed to the requisite information and treatment needed to change lifestyles. Indeed you are exceptional change agents as you “work together for best quality health care.”

Have a fruitful and productive World Health Month!


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