Some sixty data collectors will be visiting over two thousand selected persons in random households throughout Anguilla, within the coming days, to carry out a survey on non-communicable chronic diseases. The aim is for Government and health officials to determine the severity of the problem on the island.
The work, involving adult members of the population, is co-funded by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) through the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) along with the involvement of the Government of Anguilla and the Chronic Disease Unit.
The training of the data collectors was undertaken by CARPHA’s technicians Dr. Glennis Andall-Brereton, Senior Technical Officer, Non-communicable Diseases; and Ms. Angela Hinds, Senior Technical Officer, Health Information & Data Analysis, Surveillance, Disease Prevention & Control.
Speaking at the Blue Ridge Conference Centre at South Hill, where the training was conducted, Dr. Andall-Brereton told The Anguillian: “This survey is important because there is a very high burden of chronic disease on the island and the Ministry of Health and Social Development in Anguilla is trying to get information on what are the drivers for chronic diseases on the island. Selected persons in the population will be asked questions relating to risk factors for chronic diseases.”
She continued: “The survey is referred to as the STEPS methodology. It is not an acronym. Rather, it is a graduating methodology in that step one comprises a questionnaire; step two, some physical measurements; and step three is where the nurses come in. We are looking for raised glucose and raised blood cholesterol. For the physical measurements, we will be trying to assess overweight and obesity in the population. There will be measurements of height, weight, waist circumference as well as blood pressure measurements. All measurements will be done at the household level with only those persons who have been randomly selected.”
She explained that while the survey would only involve members of the adult population, when the results become available some of the interventions will be done at the school level and other levels. The aim is to prevent the population from developing chronic diseases, while efforts will be made to protect those persons with such diseases from complications of heart attacks, strokes, amputations, etc.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency official added: “When the results from this survey are available, Anguilla will not only be able to compare itself to the other UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, but with countries the world over. So far, in the Caribbean, there are twelve countries that have already done such a survey.”
The data collectors in Anguilla will be using Samsung Tablets to technologically record the information obtained from persons they interviewed. They will therefore have an advantage over the other data collectors abroad who did the previous surveys using pen and paper. It has been pointed out that persons being surveyed in Anguilla have no reason for concern as the data collected is highly confidential with no names mentioned in the survey.
Working on the data collection survey with the two CARPHA officials, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, are Mrs. Twyla Bradshaw-Richardson, Director of the Anguilla Chronic Disease Unit; and Mrs. Maeza Demis-Adams, Health Planner. The Health Authority of Anguilla is represented by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aisha Andrewin.
