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Saint Lucia joins HEARTS initiative to improve

prevention and control of hypertension

OCTOBER 24, 2019 LEAVE A COMMENT

Saint Lucia, 24 October 2019 (PAHO) – Saint Lucia became the third country of the Caribbean to implement the
HEARTS initiative to improve prevention and control of hypertension, one of the risk factors for cardiovascular
diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, the principal causes of death in the Caribbean.
HEARTS, promoted by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), together
with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the initiative Resolve to Save Lives and other
partners, is an opportunity to improve the cardiovascular health of the population of St. Lucia.
Cardiovascular diseases have been the main causes of disease and death in St. Lucia for a decade, according to the
Ministry of Health and Welfare of St. Lucia. In 2017, these diseases contributed to 31% of the mortality in the
country.

Before launching it at the national level, St. Lucia will implement HEARTS demonstrations in several primary care
clinics across the island, including Babonneau, Bellevue, Ciceron, Grande Riviere, La Croix Maingot and Richfond,
which were already evaluated. Health workers participated in a training workshop this week to implement the
project in the six wellness centres. The initiative includes training the health team, a registry of patients and an
active search for people with hypertension who do not know their condition.

“Implementing the package of measures that HEARTS includes, which are simple and of proven effectiveness, can
prevent complications from cardiovascular diseases and premature deaths,” said PAHO/WHO experts.

Hypertension is a problem that contributes to heart disease. However, it is estimated that 40 percent of people with
hypertension in the region do not know their condition. Of those who know they have hypertension and receive
treatment, around 20 percent have their blood pressure controlled.
Among the initiative’s measures for primary health care workers are the establishment of a protocol for the
management of hypertension, adoption of a set of drugs and technologies of proven effectiveness to treat
hypertension, reorganization of the tasks of the health team, registry and monitoring of progress; and advice to
patients on healthy habits and lifestyles.