St. Maarten Completes First National STEPS Survey, Minister Brug Receives Final Findings

Great Bay--The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor announced that the final report for St. Maarten’s first National PAHO and WHO STEPS Survey on Noncommunicable Diseases has been completed and formally handed over to the Minister of VSA.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Hon. Richinel S J Brug, welcomed the submission and highlighted the significance of the findings for current policy work. “I am grateful to receive the full findings at this time,” Minister Brug stated. “The data and recommendations will be directly integrated into the Ministry’s Health in All Policies approach, which will be launched in the first quarter of 2026. This report strengthens our foundation for coordinated, evidence-based action across all sectors.”

The STEPS Survey, carried out from July 2023 to October 2024, marks the country’s first comprehensive national review of behavioral and biological risks linked to chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, respiratory illnesses and kidney disease. Using the standard WHO STEPS framework, the survey combined interviews, physical assessments and blood tests among 2,042 adults between ages 18 and 69 throughout all districts.

The project’s completion relied on coordinated support from PAHO and WHO, the Tijdelijke Werkorganisatie, field staff, VSA personnel, community partners and the many residents who took part. The Ministry noted its appreciation for everyone involved and emphasized that the results will shape upcoming public health strategies, reinforce prevention programs and inform cross-sector planning.

As a follow-up, the Ministry of VSA will hold a stakeholder information session at the end of November to present the main findings and recommendations to government and community partners. Additional details will be provided in the coming days.

The STEPS survey in the Caribbean involves a standardized, three-step process to collect data on Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) risk factors: a face-to-face questionnaire (Step 1), physical measurements like blood pressure and weight (Step 2), and biochemical measurements like blood glucose and cholesterol from blood samples (Step 3). Data is collected electronically using tablets and is used to inform national health policies and monitor trends.

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