Ways to implement new strategies to fight non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other diseases were explored, when Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, and Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, met recently.
During the wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Barbosa and Ms. Mottley spoke about the debilitating effects of NCDs on the region, and Barbados’ efforts in this fight.
Ms. Mottley stated: “We have said that Barbados is facing a diabetes epidemic, and we have tried to urge the population…to first and foremost, start with yourself to control it. We will facilitate the change in behaviour changes and selling patterns. The Minister of Health has championed the elimination of trans fats; he has championed the increase in sugar taxes…. We are currently awaiting a report from his Ministry now on salt, so that little by little we are trying to do what we can….
“I am hoping that they would also engage the fast food restaurants to have healthy alternatives on their menus. We are not a dictatorial state, so we can’t rule out people’s options, but we can certainly do everything in our power to educate people, and the truth is, people eventually become educated. The question is whether they become educated early enough or too late.”
Ms. Mottley also mentioned the ongoing efforts in agriculture and food security to provide fruits and vegetables to the population at affordable prices. She added that the drought and water scarcity issues were also occupying Government’s attention.
In turn, Dr. Barbosa praised the Prime Minister for her global and regional leadership, as he reaffirmed PAHO’s commitment to its long-standing relationship with the region.
He also stressed the importance of health system resilience and recovery in the region, as well as providing technical cooperation assistance to Barbados and, by extension, the region.
Dr. Barbosa participated in the recent SIDS Ministerial Conference on NCDs and Mental Health, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.