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188 'officially diagnosed' with Dementia in VI- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

One hundred and eighty-eight persons in the Virgin Islands have been diagnosed with Dementia; however, the true figure could be much higher, according to Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9). Photo: Facebook
The calendar of activities for World Alzheimer's Month 2023. Photo: VI Alzheimer's Association/Facebook
The calendar of activities for World Alzheimer's Month 2023. Photo: VI Alzheimer's Association/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- One hundred and eighty-eight persons in the Virgin Islands have been diagnosed with Dementia; however, the true figure could be much higher, according to Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9).

In his message for World Alzheimer’s Month, Hon Wheatley said through the National Health Insurance (NHI) database, the Virgin Islands Alzheimer’s Association found that 188 persons in the Virgin Islands have been officially diagnosed with Dementia.

He added that data statistics from Alzheimer’s Disease International estimate that, worldwide, 75 percent of Dementia cases go undiagnosed.

“Therefore, it can be reasonably estimated that the number of persons living with Dementia in the territory goes above 300,” Hon Wheatley reasoned.

Never too early, never too late…

The Health Minister remined that there is no current cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and given the current statistics, and local data, now more than ever we as the community must use this year’s theme “as a guiding principle for our perception of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Virgin Islands.”

This year’s theme for World Alzheimer’s Month is ‘Never too early, never too late to reduce your risk for dementia’.

“We must examine all our personal risk factors and find different strategies to mitigate our risks,” Hon Wheatley said, as he listed some of the programmes in the Virgin Islands geared towards tackling Alzheimer’s.

23 Responses to “188 'officially diagnosed' with Dementia in VI- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”

  • Illness (04/09/2023, 16:50) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    This is Type 3 Diabetes , the brain can no longer metabolize sugar .. only ketones.
  • jack (04/09/2023, 17:02) Like (6) Dislike (8) Reply
    What is the administration doing about it?
    • @Jack (04/09/2023, 17:26) Like (33) Dislike (5) Reply
      What foolishness are you asking as if anyone or any government in the world has the cure for this miserable disease. Some of you just ignorant.
    • to Jack (04/09/2023, 17:43) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      Come on. How come when it is a subject like health under a Minister some of you always quick to blame the Minister of the administration but when it is imcrease in crime which the police has to deal with which is under the Governor, people like you are quick to say the Governor & Commissioner of Police do not committ the crime so do not blame them & leave them alone. Well the Minister do not make diseases nor cures.
  • Hum (04/09/2023, 17:03) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    I say more like 20000
  • cured (04/09/2023, 17:23) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
    It can be cured through herbs..
    • @cured (04/09/2023, 17:39) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      I fully agree but these doctors and pharmaceutical places do not want that or it will drive them out of business so they continue to make laws against natural herbs while people dying so they could get rich. NHI needs to recognize & pay for natural herbs.
      • @ cured (04/09/2023, 23:36) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        Charcoal is very good for detoxing the body
        It’ll absorb those metals and anything that’s bad toxic in the body

        Aloe
        Orange juice
        Charcoal
        Drink this twice a month

        Peel the aloe over running water each time u peel to make sure don’t transfer the bitterness that’s in the skin
        I doe buy the Tropicana with pulp
        Empty in blender
        Put about 3/4 peeled aloe leaf
        And open 3/4 activated charcoal
        Blend then transfer back in the juice jug or a glass mug
        Drink every morning on empty stomach
        Until the bottle is finish
        Twice a month
        Ladies this is also good for cleaning your womb
  • Aluminum (04/09/2023, 17:42) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    Dementia is the build up on heavy metals. As a habit, increase metal detoxing from the body. Metals such as aluminum build up is one type of metal. Stop using aluminum foil to bake with and cover food.
  • WEW (04/09/2023, 18:53) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    The majority are in government
  • Really (04/09/2023, 19:09) Like (6) Dislike (12) Reply
    Wake up people. Since the vaccine you are hearing about all kinds of diseases, sickness, viruses etc. It's all the depopulation plot. Trust me when I say the food,water , medication and everything else the government gives us is pure poison to make us sick, and have us go back into pampers when we get old. If you notice that people who eat more of their own food live longer. Stay away from the GMO, vaccinated,and aborted fetus food. I just can't believe how sick the people who run this World is
  • gh (04/09/2023, 19:43) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Is he one of them?
  • c (04/09/2023, 19:44) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    Mostly genetic.
  • jack (04/09/2023, 22:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We better hope there is change to come in the health of Virgin Islanders
  • Health Ministers.. (05/09/2023, 02:08) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    All are the same. They come with a lot of fear tactics, telling us of the worse,..,Messengers and Puppet of Bill gates and all those with the eliminating us out agenda..Instead of bringing us message of hope, strength, and positive...
    • RealPol (05/09/2023, 12:03) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Health Minister , dementia is a real ; there is no fear tactics. Asked the families of the people of those afflicted to see if there is fear tactics.
  • E. Leonard (05/09/2023, 09:01) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    188+ VI residents diagnosed with dementia; 188+ diagnosis in an estimated population of 33,000, IMO, is a huge number, a big deal. This is a health crisis and urgent action is needed to keep it from evolving into a hyper-crisis. There is no cure yet for the horrific, debilitating disease. Nevertheless, government must appropriate the funding to commission a study to determine the cause(s) for the skyrocketing number of cases. Specifically, the study should identify a point when the numbers were much lower and what changes occurred since this point, i.e., diet, lifestyle changes, environmental factors, etc. Additionally, government should appropriate the funding and provide the services to assist in any available treatment, care, etc, for those suffering with the horrible ailment, easing their and maintaining their dignity. Family members of those afflicted with the disease deal directly with the care of etc of their suffering family members. Nevertheless, this is a national issue. This is a Quadrant 1 issue situation, ie, Important and Urgent; urgent action is needed. It is an all hands on deck issue. I will take a WAG looking at the numbers that the disease is not discriminating and no family is immune to the dreaded disease so no one should let his/her guards down. Vigilance, vigilance, care, compassion, etc.
    • Mustang (05/09/2023, 10:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ E. Leonard, now we cannot look at people who are suffering with dem or Alzheimer as “doting” but rather with care and compassion. I second the motion for a study to find out the cause for increasing, concerning and alarming numbers.
    • Mustang (05/09/2023, 17:26) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Indeed, this is a crisis and is not something that the territory can or should be gloss over. Those of you who had not yet had a family member diagnosed with the disease is blessed. I have several close family diagnosed with the the disease. This experience is painful, taxing, etc. Having a family not remember their name or recognize you or have to be treated as a new born, is an indescribable experience. I concur that this is an urgent and importance issue and a comprehensive study should be immediately launch. A problem cannot be effectively solved unless the root cause is known. I read a quote recently that state, you can do anything you want but you cannot do everything. True that. Nevertheless, the BVI should launch a study into this dreaded disease. Citizens health is the most important issue on any government agenda. It is more important than the economy, education, social services, etc.
    • Undercover Observer (06/09/2023, 05:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Undoubtedly, the skyrocketing dementia numbers is a BiG f’ing deal. Dementia is a dreaded disease with no cure. There is still a stigma attach to the disease. This stigma hurts our family members by us trying to hide them, pretending. Instead, we should learn and pay attention to early signs, seek professional medical help, get available help, etc. We shouldn’t let pride, status, etc, get in the way of getting help for our family members. There is no cure but per medical professional early detection and treatment can slow the disease progression. As a nation, we owe this level of care, concern, and compassion to our people, the nation’s most valuable. We often tag government as useless, inefficient, etc. But government matters. Government shines and excels in crisis situations; we expect government to show up big time on this. This is a crisis situation and it needs to show up not just with comforting needs but with concrete action(s). Firstly, it needs to provide the resources so that the afflicted can have access to available treatments. Secondly, as other blogger’s recommended and suggested, it must commission a comprehensive study. It cannot drag its feet on this situation. Government matters; let’s show it matters. It is time like this that government can show it matters.
  • Stealth (05/09/2023, 10:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    @E.Leonard, indeed, the disease is not discriminating. The conventional wisdom was that the disease afflicted the elderly. But that belief has been disproven, for the disease is now afflicting people in their 80s, 70s, 60s, 50s. Undoubtedly, something(s) has changed and we cannot solve or ease the problem if we don’t find out what changed. Government should have commissioned a study years ago. The delay emblematic of how we address problems and find solutions in the BVI. This is something that BVIHSA and Ministry of health should have been on the leading edge on.
  • Stay off the roads (05/09/2023, 13:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This explains a lot of the driving I see especially around sunset
  • Not all are (05/09/2023, 17:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not all cases are so. I know of a person who was making poor life choices. At the time. Today, whose memory better than theirs after getting much needed rest and care. Unreal.


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