Saint Lucia will join the rest of the world in the observance of World Metrology Day on Thursday  May 20^th 2021. Saint Lucia will commemorate the occasion with a webinar on the  quality and accuracy of  blood pressure meters.

The theme for World Metrology Day 2021 is “Measurement for Health.” This year’s theme focuses on the important role measurement plays in health, and the wellbeing of everyone. A prevalence of hypertension or high blood pressure, a common non-communicable disease, NCD, in Saint Lucia, makes accurate blood pressure measurement by blood pressure meters critical to the treatment and management of the disease.

The  webinar  entitled  “Validation and Verification of the Accuracy of Blood Pressure Monitors” is targeted  at  medical  professionals,  representatives from the  Ministries of  Health and  Commerce, the Attorney General’s Chambers, officials involved in PAHO’s HEARTS in the Americas Initiative, representatives from the St. Lucia  Diabetes and Hypertension Association and importers of  blood pressure meters.

The virtual meeting will provide an  opportunity  for  stakeholders  to  discuss  the improvement  of  the  regulatory framework  for  the  importation and use of  blood pressure meters on the island  by  reference  to  a  recently  published Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) paper and the updated OIML Recommendations for  verification of  blood pressure  meters. The OIML is the International Organization of Legal Metrology and legal metrology is the  application of  legal requirements  to  measurements and measuring instruments.

For further information please contact Mrs. Vernet Fontenelle  at 4530049/4560546  or email v.fontenelle@slbs.org for assistance.