Highlights the Collective Cooperation in Combatting the Disease
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams opened the Diabetes Conference on Friday soon after her return from the Netherlands where she highlighted the importance of a joint approach to combatting the disease. The conference, organized by the Windward Islands Medical Association, brought together medical professionals from across the region and internationally to discuss ways forward in combatting the disease.
The Prime Minister emphasized the necessity to collectively battle diabetes. "Our health barometer shows that we do indeed face our challenges an we will further get a feel for this when our Health Information Systems are put in place. However, good care and prevention makes all of the difference in the care for the patients, for their families and for the communities in general of St. Maarten. In a few weeks, on November the 14th we will be celebrating World Diabetes Day and that makes this conference indeed very pertinent and timely and necessary. Stakeholders and healthcare professionals are here to discuss the trends in treatment and care for those suffering from diabetes. The trend worldwide with regards to diabetes in quite alarming and St. Maarten unfortunately is no exception. As you consider the topic for this conference "Can We Turn the Tide" I believe that indeed collectively, with the Public and Private Sectors, we indeed can however there are some necessary requisites, important amongst those being education. It should be no wonder that the theme for diabetes internationally is about prevention and education. As we contemplate how we can turn the tide and reduce the rate in which diabetes is effecting an important factor is education and understanding of what diabetes means for healthcare and our community and so we must turn the tide together," commented the Prime Minister