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In a major initiative to combat cancer in the territory, the VI Department of Health's Chronic Disease Division is set to host the first-ever Cancer Summit on July 18-19.
According to DOH, the summit, taking place at Carambola Resort in Frederiksted, St. Croix, aims to unite local and federal government partners, community organizations, healthcare providers, and advocates in the development of a comprehensive USVI Cancer Plan.
Over the course of the two-day conference, presentations will be delivered by key stakeholders such as the USVI Cancer Coalition, Center for Disease Control (CDC), American Cancer Society, and the Office of the Governor’s-Office of Health Information Technology, among others. The VI Department of Health’s leadership will also participate, and the Department's Chronic Diseases and Prevention Division will share the most recent cancer data.
VI Health Commissioner, Justa Encarnacion, expressed the significance of the summit in strengthening the Department of Health's ongoing initiatives to increase prevention through early detection, broaden healthcare access to disadvantaged communities, and enhance support for cancer patients and their caregivers.
"Working in partnership with our key stakeholders, we will identify service gaps, barriers to health equity, and address cancer prevention and control in our community,” said Lyna Fredericks, director of the Chronic Diseases Division. “Ultimately, our aim is to reduce cancer incidence, mortality, and the economic burden of care in the US Virgin Islands.”
Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in the territory after cardiovascular disease, a trend that aligns with national statistics. The most prevalent types of cancer in the region are breast cancer among females and prostate cancer among males.
While the VIDOH Cancer Summit is a working conference and not open to the public, the Department of Health encourages community involvement. The presentations will be livestreamed, and the public is invited to watch and participate by sharing their thoughts and ideas in the comment section. The livestream can be accessed at www.Facebook.com/virginislandsDOH, YouTube/USVI_DOH, and on the Government Access Channel 27.
