The UWI,
Cave Hill Campus, Wednesday, April 15, 2020. A
Public Health Research Team
from The UWI Cave Hill Campus has highlighted the need for
behavioural change in order to contain the
spread of COVID-19 in Barbados.

Their
recommendation is contained in a publication entitled ‘Modelling
and Public Health Interventions: Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions to
disrupt transmission of COVID-19 in Barbados’.

The
team comprised researchers Prof. Ian Hambleton and Doctors
Madhuvanti Murphy, Kim Quimby, Christina Howitt, Natasha Sobers of
the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, as well as
Doctors Heather Harewood and Natalie Greaves from the Faculty of
Medical Sciences. 

The
document seeks to provide definitions and recommendations for
non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) aimed at reducing the
severity of healthcare system impact of the virus by disrupting
transmission. It is a good companion document to any COVID-19
modelling.

“It
is important to note that models are based on assumptions and present
both the worst and best case scenarios (no intervention vs. NPI
measures or vaccine).

“In
order to have moderate disruption (up to 75 percent) of disease
achieved, a range of NPIs will need to be quickly implemented towards
suppression with repeated implementation,” the research team
said.

The
researchers added that NPIs are based on behaviour change and
generally have a low compliance. However they can be improved by
strategies suited to the local social, economic and cultural context.

Among
the recommendations for NPI strategies for COVID-19 are increased
testing and surveillance; information, education and communication;
limiting mass gatherings; community containment, and maintaining
social distancing particularly for individuals over age 70.

They also noted that further considerations for effective NPI use are the existence of policy and legislative support, as well as the availability of outputs from active and passive surveillance systems to monitor and guide public health measures.

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