Partnership Agreement Signals New Ally In Fight Against NCDs

The Ministry of Health and Wellness, the National NCD Commission and the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) recently signed a Partnership Agreement that will enlist the support of businesses to help combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The signing which coincided with the launch of the Chamber’s ‘Get Moving’ health initiative last Friday, will see the signatories collaborate on initiatives and campaigns to fight NCDs, in an effort to push healthier lifestyles and improve public health outcomes.

Furthermore, the partnership is expected to encourage businesses to institute and promote health and wellness policies within the workplace.  The BCCI and the NCD Commission will cooperate on the following areas:

• Developing a public awareness and education media campaign.
• Hosting a joint NCD Forum or other initiatives during the national wellness month.
• Collaborate on a joint healthy week initiative.
• Targeted campaigns for the benefit of BCCI members.
• To have representation from the Chamber on the NCD Commission

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry, said partnerships such as the one with the BCCI were important if Government was to achieve the level of transformation it wanted.

“…You cannot get very far if you do not partner with others; you have to collaborate.  I want to encourage the business community to take this on frontally.  Government cannot do what we need to do; the kind of transformation we are looking for, we cannot do it alone.  We want to mobilise the business community and our citizens, in general, to focus more on their health and wellness,” he stated.

NCDs are responsible for more than 80 per cent of deaths in Barbados with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke being the primary causes.  Approximately 40 per cent of Barbadian adults are living with at least one NCD.

Author: Melissa Rollock

Publish: October 01, 2024