BARP and Barbados Diabetes Foundation sign MOU

A stark look into the reality of diabetes was afforded to members of the media and through them, and the wider public recently as the Barbados Diabetes Foundation and the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) signed a memorandum of understanding towards the deepening of their relations. Taking place at the Maria Holder Diabetes Centre for the Caribbean recently and signed by BARP President Marilyn Rice-Bowen and Barbados Diabetes Foundation Chairman Justice Christopher Blackman, a suite of incentives for BARP members, including discounts on services and treatment, were activated by the agreement.

Speaking prior to the signing, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation Cally Boyea explained that Barbados remained one of the most unique territories in the region and the world due to our high prevalence of diabetes, with one in five persons having the disease. Citing a study that was conducted recently in the Caribbean, Boyea stated that of 15 countries across the region, Barbados was rated highest.

“The highest level of diabetes among all populations in the Caribbean is here in Barbados. You would think that an island like Haiti, where people don’t have the kind of disposable income and people are not maybe subjected to the right type of diet – Haiti ranks the lowest in the prevalence of diabetes,” he said.

Also speaking during the event was Clinical Director of the Barbados Diabetes Foundation, Dr. Diane Brathwaite. Noting that the average age of persons treated at the centre was 56 or 57, Dr. Brathwaite also revealed that the prevalence of the disease increased with age as at present, over 18% of adults over the age of 25 are diagnosed with diabetes as opposed to over 40% of adults over the age of 65.

She also explained why diabetes remains the most expensive of the non-communicable diseases to treat. Diabetes is actually the NCD that is the most expensive to treat simply because when you get a complication in one place, you tend to get complications in all the other places in your body. So therefore what it means in Barbados, from my perspective is that we need to be very active in early diagnosis. Picking up people who may have family histories who may not be screening. Picking up those who slip through the loopholes who may have been told, ‘It is just a little high. Just change your diet and you’ll be okay.’ And of course, screening for complications and preventing complications.”

Speaking to the revitalised relationship between the two entities, Brathwaite said that it was timely and hoped that it would be a viable outlet to further educate members of the public about the disease.

“I’m happy that we have this partnership where we can benefit you and give you discounts in your prime when you actually deserve it. And I would like to say that we as staff members have already been in discussion as to how we can create a little bit more of an opportunity where we can serve you with education, not necessarily in here, but maybe at your domicile or on Zoom,” she said, going on to suggest the creation of a BARP NCD Club, explaining that diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease are all intricately linked.

Shedding some light on the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, Dr. Brathwaite said that the Foundation was very active in the programme and highlighted the need to reverse an impending possible future.

“We work very strongly with the Heart and Stroke Foundation and a number of other organisations in Barbados because we have a problem. Our rates of child obesity are very high and I would say that they have probably increased about sevenfold since the 1980s. What this means is that we are going to have persons growing up who are going to be more unwell in their adulthood. You are going to be getting higher rates of diabetes as they get older because we are having these risk factors occurring at an earlier age,” she said. (MP)