“Health, Sustainable Development and the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Threat on Anguilla” will be the subject of the second UWI/ACC Anguilla Country Conference Community Engagement Session slated for Thursday, July 5, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at the Teachers’ Resource Centre in the Valley. The presentation is a follow up to the paper presented by Dr. Aisha Andrewin, Mrs. Twyla Bradshaw-Richardson and Mrs. Maeza Demis-Adams at the Anguilla Country Conference last year.
Noting that globally, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have emerged as the leading cause of illness and death; and that the four main NCDs – cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease – now account for 70% of all deaths worldwide each year, the presenters point out that on Anguilla, these diseases are responsible for at least 50% of deaths annually, and more than 50% of local health care expenditure. According to Andrewin, Bradshaw-Richardson and Demis-Adams, the National Chronic Disease Risk Factor Survey conducted in Anguilla between June and December of 2016 highlight the risk factors that are prevalent, as well as our behavioural patterns in relation to our health.
The presentation, which sparked much interest and discussion at the Conference last year, has now been updated. The general public is invited to participate in the session, during which the results of the survey, as well as the actions to realise changes in these patterns will be presented in detail.
The Country Conference is an initiative of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus and conferences are regularly held in non-campus territories of the University around the region. The conference series and subsequent publications are designed to stimulate and highlight research on the host country. The UWI Open Campus Anguilla partnered with the Anguilla Community College and other stakeholders to present the 2017 Conference as part of the 50th Anguilla Day celebration activities.
The first Community Engagement Session held in April focused on the research on Small Business on Anguilla by Dr. Wycliffe Fahie and Mr. Bren Romney, and attracted a large and interactive audience. The organisers are anticipating an equally educational session on the threat of Non-Communicable Diseases on Thursday, July 5th at 6:00 p.m. at the Teachers’ Resource Centre.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillan newspaper.)
