HEALTH MINISTRY & W.H.O STARTED NATIONWIDE N.C.D SURVEY
Permanent Secretary of MHMS and Vice Chair of the Solomon Islands National Aids Council, Dr Tenneth Dalipanda. Photo credit: SIBC.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have begun a nationwide survey on the vulnerability of Solomon Islanders to non-communicable diseases (NCD).
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services says the NCD STEPS survey will look at eight risk factors that lead to NCDs.
These include tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet and salt consumption, physical inactivity, overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, mental health, oral health and others.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr. Tenneth Dalipanda says the STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) is crucial for the ministry to assess the behaviours that lead to NCDs.
This will certainly allow the ministry to develop health interventions to prevent them.
SIBC News understands the NCD STEPS survey is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, World Health Organisation, and Ministry of Health and Medical Services.