Participants are pictured here with Healthy Communities specialist and workshop facilitator, Dr. Tom Wolff (second from right in the first row). Photo Credit: Doron Hodge/GIS

At the workshop held last month Coordinator of Health Promotion Services in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ivy George stated, “This community building workshop was designed to expose individuals and organisations to the importance of working collaboratively to improve conditions in communities that impact health.”

The workshop came on the heels of Caribbean Wellness Day and there was strong community support shown at the event.

Ms. George added, “We want to keep our community members involved in a big way and this is one strategy to accomplish that goal.”

Workshop presenter and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Irad Potter addressed income and social status, social support networks, education, employment, along with social and physical environments as key factors, which influence population health.

He informed that the major chronic diseases within the community are hypertension, blood pressure and diabetes.

The Chief Medical Officer stated, “These diseases have not always been problematic to the Virgin Islands, but as societies and value systems change, so have the disease profiles and community support systems.”

Dr. Potter advised that some areas of health could only be addressed through active participation by people and communities and stated, “People are healthier when they have more control over their lives.”

Over the two-day session, workshop facilitator and main presenter, Dr. Thomas Wolff of the Tom Wolff Association shared some principles of community building, which included Principles of Healthy Communities, Elements of a Healthy Community, Coalition Building, Key Principles of Collaboration Solutions, Creative Vision and Strategic Planning, as well as Collaborative Leadership and Action Planning.

Dr. Wolff advocated participants to listen to their fellow community members before presenting solutions or initiatives.

“Find out what they want to do and don’t just do what you think ought to be done”, urged Dr. Wolff.

Participants were advised that while differences in socio-economic statuses could create conflicts, it is important that the conflict resolution process start at the grass root level. The sessions also included activities on shared decision making and constructive conflict resolution during which they were reminded that what may have worked well in one scenario may not have the same type of positive impact in another scenario.

At the end of the two-day workshop, participants agreed that they were better equipped to make more valuable contributions to the community building process.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide leadership that promotes health, social well-being, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development of the Virgin Islands.