The National Chronic Disease Unit, based in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, has found a unique way to bring about an awareness of the various long term illnesses affecting persons in Anguilla. The new approach is through a series of annual debates involving students.
The first of four such novel debates was held at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium on Friday, November 11, and involved students from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. They were Klein Harrigan, Rushana Welcome, Edwin Sutton and Jersey Turivides. The topic for debate was in connection with the importance of handling chronic diseases.
The second debate takes place this week Friday, November 18. The topic will be: “Pink celebrations during October have become a fashion exhibition which overshadows the importance of screening and early detection of breast cancer”.
The topic for debate three on Friday, November 25, will be: “A National Health Fund will solve Anguilla’s healthcare problems”.
The fourth debate, scheduled for Friday, December 2, is: “PrEP ( Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) medications should be introduced in Caribbean countries as a means of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS”.
The debating series, during the school’s lunch period, is sponsored by the Government of Anguilla, the Anguilla Social Security Board, Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel and Sandy Island, Anguilla.
A release from the National Chronic Disease Unit states that the debating series is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of chronic diseases, in Anguilla, and their risk factors.
The release continues: “It has been assumed that there is a lack of knowledge about chronic diseases and other health topics among our youth and the population in general. This lack of knowledge has led to an increase in the number of Anguillians who do not practice healthy life style choices. More and more, our society is becoming burdened with the effects of chronic illnesses and without intervention the number of persons with chronic diseases on the island is sure to increase.
“We, at the National Chronic Disease Unit, are of the strong belief that empowerment first begins with education. The Unit was launched one year ago with an aim to improve the health and quality of life of the Anguillian people. To this end, the Unit has been working to effectively manage chronic diseases through the creation of comprehensive integrated strategies that encompass education, programme development, policy formulation, behavioural modification, advocacy and disease prevention. Thus, this debating series will be used as a mechanism to inform the general public about chronic diseases, and ways to prevent them, in order for the people of Anguilla to live healthier and longer lives.”
