Jan 09 - GHA Requests Public Assistance in Carrying Out Updated Health and Lifestyle Survey
In relation to a commitment made by Health Minister Dr. Cortes in his 2014 budget speech, Director of Public Health Dr. Kumar today revealed that an updated ‘Health and Lifestyle’ Survey would be produced this year. The initiative will see 750 random adults selected from the register of electors to be questioned anonymously by surveyors contracted by the GHA, face to face.
Following on from the 2008 report, which caused some controversy when it was not released to the public until 2013, Dr. Kumar insisted that the updated survey results will help the GHA to determine which areas need to be targeted. Similarly to the former survey, a shorter synopsis of the results will be published and made available to the public.
The former survey targeted areas including smoking, drinking, physical activity, food habits, sun care and diet, topics that will most likely be touched upon once more. Dr. Kumar explained that its release was delayed as the GHA ‘did not obtain the right skill’s to publish it at the time. Dr. Cortes added that when the GSLP/ Liberal Government came in to power they wanted the survey in the public domain.
The survey will be carried out between February and March, following a period of training for the surveyors. Dr. Kumar explained asked that those selected for the survey give their full co-operation and ‘contribute wholeheartedly to the survey, as opportunities like this come only rarely.’
