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Health survey facing obstacles, officials say
Caymanian Compass, 26 June, 2012
Ministry of Health officials are appealing for the public in the
Cayman Islands to cooperate in an ongoing health risk factor survey
which survey takers are having difficulty completing.
The eight-week survey, which began in mid-May, has been extended to
allow more time for participants, who have been randomly selected,
to give their information.
Chief Officer at the Ministry of Health Jennifer Ahearn said there
had been some refusals from people reluctant to take part in the survey
and also the survey takers have been having some problems finding
people at home when they visit selected addresses.
Households are randomly selected and then an individual member within
each household is asked to take part in the survey. “You cannot substitute,”
Ms Ahearn said. This means that other family members cannot volunteer
to do the survey instead of a relative. Survey takers have been asking
for call backs when the selected person returns home. “They have had
some issues with getting call backs,” Ms Ahearn said.
There have also been concerns among the public about how the information,
once gathered, will be used, she said. However, Ms Ahearn repeated
assurances that all information would be treated in a confidential
manner.
“It is really important that people participate. We need this information,”
she said.
During the exercise, called Healthy Nation 2012, 60 survey takers
are visiting 2,100 homes in all three of the Cayman Islands to determine
the risks that lead people to develop diseases such as high blood
pressure, diabetes and heart conditions. It is the first time a health
risk factor survey has been carried out in Cayman.
Health conference
The appeal to the public came during a news conference Monday morning
to announce the third annual National Healthcare Conference, known
as Healthcare 20/20. This year’s conference is themed Patient-centred
Care: Achieving Quality Outcomes.
“Expectations for this year’s conference are high as each annual conference
helps us move that much closer to our vision of optimal health and
wellbeing for all in the Cayman Islands,” said Health Minister Mark
Scotland.
He encouraged the medical and business communities, as well as members
of the public and patients to attend the conference, free of charge,
saying it will allow them the opportunity to help define health policies
that will affect them and future generations.
Among the speakers at this year’s conference, which will be held on
18-20 October at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, will be Barbara Ficarra,
a medical blogger and host of the radio show “Health in 30”, and Cynthia
Hastings-James, the cofounder of Cookson James Loyalty, which aims
to change the face of healthcare in Canada. More speakers will be
announced at a later date, Mr. Scotland said.
This year’s conference will target three key areas: paediatric care,
oncology and corporate wellness. The minister said working groups
would be set up before the conference to address these topics and
presentations based on those discussions would be made.
The two previous conferences were heavily sponsored by local and international
companies and organisers, meaning the Ministry of Health hosted the
events at little cost. Mr. Scotland said he hoped the same would occur
this year.
Some of the preliminary data from the risk factor survey may be available
in time for the conference, Ms Ahearn said. The scheduled date for
the release of the data is November.
Mr. Scotland reiterated the importance of people taking part in the
survey, saying: “We all know people who suffer from such lifestyle
diseases as high blood pressure and diabetes; we all know that obesity
affects way too many of our citizens, but equally, we all should know
that these ailments are preventable.
“That is why this initiative has been such a dynamic one, moving us
forward to not only improve the provision of healthcare in this country,
but also to help break the cycle of the most prevalent chronic diseases
that continually befall our residents.”
The survey will also play a part in the revision of the Cayman Islands’
national health policy and strategic health plan, which is being carried
out this year.
“I cannot emphasise strongly enough the importance of all the industry’s
stakeholders committing to travelling the same path to reach the same
goal, a healthcare system that will be the standard bearer throughout
the Caribbean and, indeed, the world,” Mr. Scotland said.
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