CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC—St. Lucia will participate in the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) to systematically monitor tobacco use among in-school youth aged 13 to 15.
The last survey was conducted in 2017. The authorities said that the GYTS is an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and will adhere to an internationally standardized methodology, enabling the island to contribute to and benefit from globally comparable data on youth tobacco exposure and prevention.
Programme Officer at the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat (SAACS), Caleb Paul, said that a one-day seminar was recently conducted to equip field officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively carry out the survey across secondary schools on the island.
“Training our field workers is a critical component of this initiative. Through this engagement, we ensure field officers are competent in administering the survey and accurately collecting the required data from students in various secondary schools here in St. Lucia,” Paul said.
He said the training activities were intentionally designed to be participatory and practical, providing field officers with real-world exposure to the required tools and procedures.
“With the participants, you would walk through the process, going through all the instruments they’ll be using before heading out to the schools to implement that survey,” he added.
The Ministry of Education is playing a key collaborative role in ensuring the smooth rollout of the survey within schools as acting Curriculum Officer for Health and Family Life Education at the Curriculum and Materials Development Unit (CAMDU), Valerie Fletcher, school principals, and key education officials will be engaged to ensure students are prepared for the survey,
“It is essential because it helps build the evidence base necessary for planning and preparing for policy making,” she said.
The authorities here say tobacco use remains a pressing public health concern, particularly when initiated in adolescence.
“By gathering local, evidence-based data, this 2025 GYTS initiative aims to support the development of more targeted interventions, effective prevention strategies, and informed policymaking, ultimately contributing to a healthier, tobacco-free generation in St. Lucia.”
The date for the start of the survey has not yet been released.
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