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Community forum to address NCDs
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Posted on Feb 20 2012
The epidemic of non-communicable diseases or NCDs in the CNMI is the most important health issue of our time. “Non-communicable diseases” include health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. These health problems are the most common causes of disability and death, are lifestyle related and, for the most part preventable.
This epidemic of NCDs is directly linked to four risk factors—poor diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse.
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Division of Public Health recognizes that NCDs are not only an epidemic but a true public health emergency that, despite all efforts, has steadily become worse.
A group of concerned community leaders and members of the Division of Public Health met twice in the last few weeks and discussed this NCD epidemic and how best to address it. This group believes that the most effective response to NCD’s will come from the community, and that a “whole of society” approach is needed.
The group calls for the formation of a community-based CNMI-wide “NCD Alliance,” with the formal name and composition of this alliance to be determined.
As a beginning, to get a broader community input, two public forums are planned on Saipan. The first is Wednesday, Feb. 22, 6:30pm, at the Multi-Purpose Center. For those who cannot make it on Wednesday, a second meeting will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, 10am, tentatively at the indoor theater of the American Memorial Park in Garapan. Similar forums on Tinian and Rota will follow in the coming weeks.
For more information, contact the Division of Public Health at 236-8703, 285-3735, or via email at chcpublichealth@gmail.com. Public comments and recommendations are also welcome. [I](CHC)[/I]
