Promoting Positive Health Outcomes within Communities

In 2015, the United Nations created seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of Agenda 2030, for peace and prosperity of people and our planet. Goal #3 is entitled Good Health and Wellbeing, and its aim is to ensure healthy lives, and promote well-being for all, at all ages. I am of the view that this goal has significant implications for the other SDGs. More importantly, there are thirteen targets identified in relation to this goal – one of which is to reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This is of critical importance since chronic NCDs significantly reduce the quality of our lives as we age, and is the number one cause of death within the Region.  

On September 15, 2007, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met in Port of Spain, Trinidad, at a special Regional Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases. Identifying NCDs as an ever-increasing burden on the economy, the major aim of the Summit was to engage in collective dialogue towards ending this epidemic. One of the main takeaways of the Summit was the consensus that a shared responsibility approach which included the individual, families, communities, the government, and other NGOs was required: each had a role to play. The collective action to be taken in that regard became known as the Declaration of Port of Spain: Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs. 

Let’s stick a pin, briefly. As a Sport Studies’ PhD student at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, I have been enjoying the journey of learning and discovery. Over the past year, I’ve done many interesting courses and have had the opportunity to engage in quality discussions with my professors and my peers. A lot of the real learning occurs at the intersection of the lectures and the discussions. One of my most interesting moments of insight was the fact that, a PhD is not just about advancing one’s academic standings or enhancing one’s qualifications, but more so, about increasing your desirability and willingness to address real-world concerns, and provide solutions to problems. In that vein, while initially my intention was to simply carry out a study of a sport programme within the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service, as I continued to engaged in one class after another… one discussion after another… one assignment after the other; I began to feel an increased sense of “do what you’re really passionate about, and what can allow you to have a real impact.”

In that regard, one of my major preoccupations has always been personal well-being. I am passionate about supporting others in creating more meaningful, productive and enjoyable lives, against the backdrop of the many dimensions of well-being. Moreover, since learning of the Declaration of Port of Spain while completing my master’s degree in 2009, I often wondered what progress had been made – particularly within the Trinidad and Tobago context. Being a Sports Studies’ student, I frequently questioned to what extent had the various national sport organizations taken advantage of this opportunity? I have since been considering taking my research in that direction.

Tentatively, my research intent is currently entitled Promoting Positive Health Outcomes within Communities. The aim is to explore efforts towards reduction in the risk of NCDs at the community level – in pursuit of the objectives of the Declaration of Port of Spain. The research objectives are intended to explore the community initiatives and/or facilities developed or acquired subsequent to the Declaration of Port of Spain, as well as the extent to which such developments have been taken advantage of by the various sporting disciplines and national sport organizations. Furthermore, approaches towards optimizing such community-based initiatives/facilities would be proposed. 

To end this post in the way in which it began, the UN SDG #8, speaks of Decent Work and Economic Growth, with the major targets being sustainable economic growth, diversify, innovativeness, support for job creation and growing enterprises, improving resource efficiency, full employment, and promoting youth employment, education and training. To that end, another objective of my research would be to explore means by which a level of respectability, recognition, and prestige can be accrued towards persons with community-level expertise, supporting individuals in their efforts towards a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention – perhaps formalizing the vocation of Human Health Resources Practitioner within the local context, as defined by the World Health Organization as "all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance positive health outcomes." 

Infographic in Support of Narrative

On September 15, 2007, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met in Port of Spain, Trinidad, at a special Regional Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases. Arising out of that Summit was the Declaration of Port of Spain, a United Effort to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs. The graph below shows that since 2008 (i.e. the year after the Summit), the percent of total deaths attributed to NCDs within the Caribbean has been on an upward trend, despite the efforts by the respective countries. The purpose of my research is to explore what these efforts have been within the Trinidad and Tobago context, and to provide recommendations which may have the effect of possibly reversing the negative trajectory, and put us on the path towards improved quality of life and reduced mortality from NCDs.

Source: Irina A. Nikolic, Anderson E. Stanciole, and Mikhail Zaydman, “Chronic Emergency: Why NCDs Matter,” World Bank Health, Nutrition and Population Discussion Paper (2011).