Issue
High levels of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Saint Kitts and Nevis increase the risks of Covid-19. The lack of evidence on the impact of Covid-19 on people living with NCDs has precluded effective action. There is a significant shortage of research on it’s gendered impacts.
How we are helping
This project will strengthen the national Covid-19 recovery strategy by developing gender-balanced, public health policies. It’s research will inform gender-balanced NCD policy recommendations that establish the impact of current responses to Covid-19 on people living with NCDs.
About the project
Saint Kitts and Nevis, along with other countries in the Caribbean, faces two major challenges with respect to Covid-19. The first is high levels of NCDs, which increase the risk of severe Covid-19 and death. NCDs are a major public health issue in Saint Kitts and Nevis, accounting for 83% of deaths. The second challenge relates to the heavy impact of the pandemic on a small, tourism-dependent economy.
Despite government efforts to address NCDs during the pandemic, the lack of strong research evidence relating to the impacts of Covid-19 on patients living with NCDs has compromised effective remedial actions. It is important to understand the impacts of Covid-19 responses on gender and NCDs for proper targeting in addressing gender inequalities.
This project aims to equip policy makers, the private sector and civil society with evidence on gender-related impacts of Covid-19 responses so that they are better positioned to formulate gender-balanced public health responses, policies and programmes to respond to the current pandemic as well as future emergencies. It will complement the government’s existing efforts to reduce the risk of the pandemic and is directly aligned with related high-level efforts including the Prime Minister’s focus on ‘strengthening of the health system with a multi-sectoral approach to countering NCD risks.’
This will be achieved by:
- conducting research to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 responses on the lives of women and men living with NCDs
- interviewing policy makers from the government’s Covid-19 Task Force, the Ministry of Health, NCD Coordinator, civil society organisations, the Chamber of Commerce, and representatives of hospitals and healthcare facilities to better understand the rationale behind responses and ascertain whether gender considerations were part of the policy formulation and strategy development process
- conducting a Gender Impact Assessment to assess how policies and regulations have impacted gender inequality between women and men living with NCDs
- organising a multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss the findings of the research and impact assessment, share lessons and ascertain how findings can inform future policy development
- producing a ‘best practice guide’ on managing NCDs in a gender-balanced way during pandemics, epidemics and natural disasters
Project Partners
Lake Health and Wellbeing is a registered Non-Governmental Organisation in Saint Kitts and Nevis that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of its local, regional and online community by conducting qualitative research to explore specific health and wellbeing issues; delivering public health interventions (pilots, projects and programmes); organising health awareness, educational events and campaigns; and offering public health services to small organisations to assist them in achieving their aims and objectives.
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