Dominica gov’t promises to tackle non-communicable diseases head-on
Non-communicable diseases are said to be the leading causes of death in Dominica and the government has vowed to tackle the situation head-on.
A coordinator will be appointed by the government to address the issue of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the island, according to Dr. Irving McIntyre, parliamentary representative for the Roseau Valley constituency.
“We have to be honest, we have the burden of chronic non-communicable Diseases, it’s not unique to Dominica, it’s all of the region, all over the world and we are going to tackle it head-on,” McIntyre said during the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) campaign rally held in Cochrane on Sunday. “We are going to handle this head-on to the extent that we are even appointing a coordinator.”
NCDs include heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental disorders. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs kill 41 million people each year, which is equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally.
“That is how serious we take these things and that is the planning the Labour party government brings to things. We see it coming, we are not going to sit down, we are not sleeping on ourselves,” McIntyre added.
Paying attention to NCDs is just one element in Dominica government’s healthcare priorities.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s government has largely focused on rebuilding the island with climate-resilient infrastructure, which includes a number of prime healthcare facilities throughout the island in a bid to offer an elevate healthcare system.
The government has mandated the developing arm of Montreal Management Consultants Est. (MMCE), MMC Development Ltd., to oversee the construction of the clinics and hospitals in Dominica.
MMC Development Ltd. is responsible for the construction of the 12 health centers fully funded by the Citizenship by Investment Programme, and eight of which have already either been completed or currently in the works. The company is also behind the construction of the new Marigot Hospital.
Aside from these, the Dominica China Friendship Hospital is almost completed with the Dominica Hospitals Authority leading a tour at the two newly-completed and furnished in-patient buildings of the hospital in September.
The construction of the new Reginald Armour Hospital in Portsmouth will commence soon.
Also, at a budget hearing in July, Skerrit announced the opening of the American Canadian School of Medicine next year.