Scientific studies and appraisal of some bush remedies at the University of the West Indies, (UWI) Mona have found that these “bushes” though possibly having beneficial ingredients also have potential toxins which can be harmful to individuals and that these cultural practices greatly impact on the health of the region.
 
 The researchers found that across the region there is wide-spread use of “bush teas” for a variety of ills, inclusive of diabetes. Some bushes of preference for diabetes include cerassie, annatto, peri-winkle, dandelion, vervine, guaco, cashew bark, coconut shell, aloe vera, cannabis satira among others.  The  medical authorities believe that these “bush teas” when drunk result in a negative urine test for sugar and even a, real or imagined, lowering of blood sugar. The reason for this is obscure, but these clinical findings cannot be ignored or denied.
 
Against this background the researchers have suggested that urgent attention be given to patient education in the management, and even prevention, of this disease. In response, The University (of the West Indies) Diabetes Outreach Programme (UDOP) in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) organized a workshop for the development of a curriculum for health professionals. Experts practicing in the field, professors in academia and programme advisors were gathered to define the curriculum predicated on that of the International Diabetes Federation. This was, however, with the provison that the framework of the curriculum must reflect needs specific and in a cultural context to the Caribbean.
 
Prof. Dalip Ragoobirsingh, Director of the UWI (Mona) Diabetes Education Programme and Temporary Consultant to the PAHO project on Improvement Initiatives for Diabetes Care in the Caribbean has incorporated lectures on this subject. The specific goal of this project is to achieve real and sustained improvements in diabetes care in 10 Caribbean territories including: Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. 
 
Over the last three years he has visited each territory where he worked along with PAHO staff, health planners and providers from the local ministries of health designing an intervention for improving diabetes care in their country. He also worked with the local teams to train local health care providers and co-ordinate the implementation and evaluation of interventions, which is being continuously   reviewed and supported. 
 
He notes that although a lot still remains to  be done there is good evidence that this programme is playing a pivotal role in assisting health care professionals, individuals with diabetes and their home care givers ,as well as policy makers to implement change, to effectively manage diabetes and prevent its complications across the region.
 
The UWI( Mona) Diabetes Education Programme   has had the full support from the Offices of the Campus Principal, Dean , Faculty of Medical Sciences  as well that of the Head ,Basic Medical Sciences.
 
The UWI also partnered with the University of Technology (UTECH) in hosting the UDOP 18th  Conference and Graduate course in Diabetes entitled New Frontiers in Diabetes Management,  at the Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios on March 29 to April 1, 2012.