Castries – The St Lucia government says it is in the process of establishing a national tobacco control policy.
It said that the project is being implemented by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat of the Ministry of Health and Wellness through a grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative and their subsidiary the Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.
“The policy will address the risk factors which contribute to increasing rates of chronic non-communicable diseases and pre-mature death. The required policy also seeks to incorporate all related international, regional and national level polices and to integrate common areas to support cost-effective implementation in St Lucia,” the ministry said in a statement.
It said that the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control and the MPOWER Measures will form the framework for policy development and implementation planning.
“When completed, the policy will address the gaps in prevention, treatment, and care, through a comprehensive approach,” the ministry said, adding that the data collection phase will provide valuable information to guide the development of the national tobacco control policy and implementation plan.
“A truly participatory and integrated approach will be utilised to ensure the successful implementation of the smoking control policy,” it said, noting that the policy development exercise will end next month and that “virtual public policy engagement mechanisms will be employed to support the full involvement of all stakeholders in organised groups and also as individuals”.
It added that all relevant stakeholders will be contacted to participate in the policy analysis and development exercise.
“Stakeholders are urged to take this opportunity to play their part to ensure a safer healthier St Lucia for everyone,” it added.
(CMC)
