Global specialists in liver and pancreatic illnesses and cancers convened in Saint Lucia to discuss best practices and treatment methods for emerging health threats, particularly in the Caribbean.
With increases in global diagnoses of pancreatic and liver cancers, leading experts in Saint Lucia thought it prudent to assemble global experts on these illnesses to raise awareness and prepare local practitioners.
Against this backdrop, Dr. Dawit Kabiye organised the 9th annual symposium of Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association in Saint Lucia this March. “These experts will be presenting their experiences to advance services in our region and new methods of dealing with surgeries and medical conditions behind liver and pancreatic cancer. These illnesses can be a death sentence in third world countries …in solo practice, these conditions are difficult to manage so it requires a collaborative approach,” Dr. Kabiye explained.
Dr. Kabiye spoke to the importance of such a conference in raising awareness locally as many citizens are unaware of their particular health risks. It will also help local doctors in knowing how to treat these illnesses. “It is not something that is commonly known. I’m sure there are a few women who know they have gallstones, but many don’t know how frequent the illness is getting. I think this conference will help to bring more awareness to our citizens and more awareness to our doctors as well,” he said.
Professor of Liver and Pancreatic Surgery at the University of the West Indies, Dr Shamir Cowich, explained that many patients are still unaware of the options available to them. “As Caribbean people, we frequently encounter persons who have diseases of the liver and the pancreas – they may not be aware of the level of care available to them in many instances and by simply getting the word out there, letting patients know they have options that makes a big difference in patients’ lives,” he said.
Cancer treatment is an area of priority for all health practitioners as statistics show that diagnosis and mortality rates are high. Data from the World Health Organisation’s Global Cancer Observatory report that prostate, breast and colorectal cancers are the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Saint Lucia.
