Africa-Press – Seychelles. The Ministry of Health has launched a survey study, through which it hopes to collect data and establish the proportion of the population who suffers from cardiovascular and non-communicable diseases.
Approximately 1,700 persons from Mahé, Praslin and La Digue have been randomly selected as survey participants, from an updated list based on the results of the housing and population census held by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2022.
According to consultant for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with the health ministry, Dr Pascal Bovet, the ministry has not conducted such a study in over 10 years, which means that the rate of cardiovascular and NCDs among the population is not accurately known.
However, in recent years, the institution has observed that such diseases are among the leading causes of death in Seychelles, with over 50 percent of the mortality rate attributed to diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, among others.
“A lot of things have changed over 10 years. In particular, diabetes has increased a lot. This survey will give us information as to where we are, the level of service that we need, and data relating to how many people should be on treatment,” he stated.
“It will allow us to identify where there are gaps in the service that people have accessed, and will inform us as to how to improve things in going forward,” Dr Bovet added.
The survey structure comprises a number of health tests, including blood tests and ultrasounds, as well as a questionnaire about different lifestyle factors, including risky-behaviours, disability and mental health.
Additionally, the test will also address cancer screenings, with the aim of finding out how many people get screened for different types of cancer. The information will also be collected and analysed by age groups, towards designing effective screening programmes that the ministry will eventually implement.
Programme manager of the cardiovascular unit, Bharathi Viswanathan noted that participants, aged between 18 to 74 years old will be contacted by the ministry to book an appointment for the tests to be carried out on weekdays, from 6.30am, in light of the fact that participants have to be sober and fasting for the tests.
The test will last around two hours for each subject, and the ministry plans to see around 20 patients daily. Once they have completed all the tests, they will receive their preliminary results.
Mr Bovet added that participants will be referred for treatment if necessary, and will receive a detailed medical report comprising all the test results, upon completion of the study in December.
Fifteen health professionals across different departments will be conducting the survey.
The ministry is urging all selected subjects to participate in the survey, noting that the benefits are twofold.
“Firstly, it is beneficial on a personal level. Some people who have never undergone any medical tests have an opportunity to know their status about different behaviours and cardiovascular diseases,” she said.
“Secondly, it is important for the maximum number of people to participate, since they represent the population. We need the majority of the 1,700, so we can draw results that represent the population. This will allow us to situate ourselves as to where we are, in terms of different conditions,” Ms Viswanathan asserted.
The health professionals will be conducting the tests on Praslin and La Digue in October.
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