National Epidemiologist Harmonie Massiah has said that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the impact that Non Communicable Diseases continue to have on persons across and globe and in the territory.
She said this has resulted in the Ministry of Health ramping up their campaigns to spread awareness of the various NCDs and to promote the several measures residents can utilise to help control and minimise the chances of developing NCDs.
Also commenting on the subject was Public Health Nutritionist Patrice Maduro who said that more needs to be done in the territory to address the root causes of NCDs.
She said this will help with preventing persons from developing NCDs since it has now escalated beyond unprecedented levels in the territory.
Ms. Massiah also backed the claims made by the public health nutritionist, adding that the situation is so bad in territory that it has slowed the progression of the BVI in attaining its 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of reducing NCDs by one-third.
To best tackle NCDs in the BVI, the national epidemiologist says it will take a hands-on approach by all entities, including government and private organisations.