CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC—St. Lucia will take part within the International Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) to systematically monitor tobacco use amongst in-school youth aged 13 to fifteen.
The final survey was carried out in 2017. The authorities mentioned that the GYTS is an initiative of the World Well being Group (WHO) and can adhere to an internationally standardized methodology, enabling the island to contribute to and profit from globally comparable knowledge on youth tobacco publicity and prevention.
Programme Officer on the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat (SAACS), Caleb Paul, mentioned {that a} one-day seminar was lately carried out to equip subject officers with the required information and abilities to successfully perform the survey throughout secondary faculties on the island.
“Coaching our subject staff is a important part of this initiative. Via this engagement, we guarantee subject officers are competent in administering the survey and precisely amassing the required knowledge from college students in varied secondary faculties right here in St. Lucia,” Paul mentioned.
He mentioned the coaching actions have been deliberately designed to be participatory and sensible, offering subject officers with real-world publicity to the required instruments and procedures.
“With the contributors, you’ll stroll via the method, going via all of the devices they’ll be utilizing earlier than heading out to the faculties to implement that survey,” he added.
The Ministry of Schooling is enjoying a key collaborative function in making certain the graceful rollout of the survey inside faculties as appearing Curriculum Officer for Well being and Household Life Schooling on the Curriculum and Supplies Growth Unit (CAMDU), Valerie Fletcher, faculty principals, and key training officers will probably be engaged to make sure college students are ready for the survey,
“It’s important as a result of it helps construct the proof base essential for planning and making ready for coverage making,” she mentioned.
The authorities right here say tobacco use stays a urgent public well being concern, significantly when initiated in adolescence.
“By gathering native, evidence-based knowledge, this 2025 GYTS initiative goals to assist the event of extra focused interventions, efficient prevention methods, and knowledgeable policymaking, finally contributing to a more healthy, tobacco-free technology in St. Lucia.”
The date for the beginning of the survey has not but been launched.
