BARP members to get medical support from diabetes foundation

Officials of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) and the Barbados Diabetes Foundation have renewed an agreement that will see elderly residents having more affordable access to some health services.

On Friday, the International Day of Older Persons, the two organisations signed the two-year agreement, paving the way for the more than 22,000 BARP members to have access to diabetes-related health services including podiatric care at a discounted rate.

During the virtual signing ceremony, President of BARP Marilyn Rice-Bowen and Manager of the Barbados Diabetes Foundation Dwight Edghill highlighted plans that both organisations would be carrying out to help improve the lives of the elderly in Barbados.

“We do view this partnership with the Barbados Diabetes Foundation as pivotal as they seek to offer medical support and other requisite services to members of BARP who are diabetic,” said Rice-Bowen, pledging that BARP would continue its education campaign.

“We want to reduce the incidents of non-communicable diseases in this country and the Barbados Diabetes Foundation has extended this service to us and we have embraced it because we need healthy people, persons who are aware of their status so that they can take better care.

“So today as we celebrate older persons under the theme Digital Equity for All, I want to advise all residents of Barbados please, stay safe. We will continue to support you but your health responsibility is in your hands,” said Rice-Bowen.

Pointing to the latest Health of the Nation Survey, which showed that Barbados had some 20 per cent of the population or close to 60,000 people living with diabetes, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Diabetes Foundation Cally Boyea said “The scary thing about diabetes is that it affects just about every part of the body.”

However, pointing to the blindness and the roughly 300 amputations per year as a result of the disease, Boyea said the agreement with BARP should result in more people doing early checks so they could prevent these situations from happening.

He said they were hoping to use the relationship with BARP to extend the multi-disciplinary care in terms of podiatry and retina screening,” he said.

Edghill of the foundation said that association would seek to become more proactive, adding that it has already sought donations and would be installing two pieces of medical equipment to help individuals with early detection of problems with their feet and eyes.

The first piece of equipment, he said, should be introduced towards the end of this year to detect issues relating to the eyes in people with diabetes, while the second piece would be introduced early next year.

“Too many Barbadians who live with diabetes or suffer with hypertension do not know the damage that is going on with their feet. What we are doing is trying to give everyone that early detection. Early detection can cause early repair and prevention,” said Edghill, who added that BARP members would also be able to enjoy special benefits.
(MM)