Basseterre, St. Kitts (April 20, 2006): The Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) has trained health professionals in the management of obesity, diabetes and hypertension over the past week.
CFNI Public Health Nutritionist Mr. Godfrey Xuereb and CFNI Health Educator Dr. Corlis Ormiga were in the Federation conducting training to introduce a protocol on the mentioned health issues.
Mr. Xuereb explained that the new protocol for the management of obesity, diabetes and hypertension was developed by CFNI over the last four to five years and was launched in 2004. He said it was mainly geared towards primary health care.
The Health Nutritionist explained that a holistic team approach was being taken in the training, ensuring that health professionals such as trained nurses, primary health care workers and physicians were involved. He said the objective was to ensure that the same messages were given to patients and and demonstrate the important role of each member of healthcare team in the prevention of obesity, diabetes and hypertension. He also explained why it was important to establish a nutritional protocol on the three health concerns.
He said that the three conditions are big concerns in the region. Mr. Xuereb emphasized that the English-speaking has one of the highest rates of diabetes and obesity and CFNI wanted to ensure that the quality of nutritional care throughout the Caribbean is the same. He said that this care should be dispensed in a uniformed fashion.
Mr. Xuereb said that obesity was the cornerstone of all cardiovascular health problems and that the establishment of the protocol was conveniently coinciding with another one being launched by the Caribbean Health and Research Council (CHRC) and the Pan American Health Organsation (PAHO).
This is the management protocol for diabetes and hypertension. The nutritionist said that the nutrition and management protocols work hand in hand and ensure that holistic care is given at the highest quality equivalent to that given in the first world. He said that the protocols also aim to create a mentality of prevention in healthcare among the general population.
The Health Nutritionist emphasized that the protocol aimed to demonstrate the importance of preventing obesity, diabetes and hypertension but that it was also critical for persons who already have the conditions to follow proper nutrition thus preventing further health complications.
