About
The British Virgin Islands Diabetes Association was established in 1979, as a follow-up to a patient education workshop on diabetes, held by a team from PAHO and CAREC along with the Nutrition Department from Trinidad.
The Association is affiliated with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the North American & Caribbean Region Diabetes Association and the Diabetes Association of the Caribbean.
The BVI Diabetes Association resource center is named after founding member and Medical Advisor from its inception to her passing in 2009. It is called the Dr. Jana Downing Diabetes Resource Center.
Mission
To promote Diabetes prevention and care, by addressing the challenges facing the community by creating avenues to address diabetes complications, and to represent every one with diabetes by taking a proactive approach and educate those who care for them focusing on the need for a complete change to a healthier lifestyle .
Vision
Educate the community on Diabetes care, prevention and complications, thereby promoting better healthcare and encourage healthy lifestyles.
Main Focus
- To promote interest in diabetes and provide education and information for people with diabetes and their families, thereby promoting better health and happier lives for them.
- To support people with diabetes in the management of their condition and encouraging their families to become involved with this.
- To contribute to health improvement, diabetes prevention and the mitigation of suffering through training programmes and services for the benefit of the community, adapted to national and local needs and circumstances.
- To get professionals involved to assist with recruiting, training and assigning such personnel as necessary for the discharge of its responsibilities
- To provide a forum where people with diabetes can come together for mutual support and encouragement
- To promote the participation of young people in the work of the association.
Activities
The association continues to be very active within the community by undertaking a number of activities. These include free blood glucose and blood pressure screenings, weight management and counselling for people with diabetes and their caregivers. Diabetes supplies are sold at cost, with free supplies provided, as funds permit, to those unable to afford them.
Meetings/workshops are held where medical practitioners, nutritionists, diabetes educators, physical educators and other relevant persons in the community are invited as guest speakers.
Throughout the year the association provides manpower and supplies to other organisations requesting assistance, through health fairs. “Diabetes in the Work Place” is well received by the business community and requests the assistance of the association to educate and conduct screenings in the workplace.
“Project healthy lifestyles” visits are conducted in schools throughout the year, involving a team of diabetes educators, nutritionists & health educators. These visits are increased during November and on World Diabetes Day. Other activities are also planned for youth.
Fundraisers are a major part of our activities. These are done in an effort to raise funds to assist the community and the effective running of the association.