Poor lifestyle choices boost mortality burden – Caricom Director

The reality of Caribbean people facing increased risk factors due to poor lifestyle habits has resulted in a mortality burden for the region – an issue in which Caricom wants a turnaround.
Caricom Director of Human Development, Helen Royer on Friday stated that the lifestyle being adopted by a majority of people within the country is an epidemic that has severe implications.

“We are aware that our current reality is shaped by a number of challenges. The Region, for some time, has been experiencing an increased mortality burden associated with non-communicable diseases, mainly due to the rise in risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol, and unhealthy diets. This is of concern for many reasons.”
Not only are these concerns health-related, but it also takes a toll on economies due to productivity loss and a decreasing life expectancy.
“It is becoming an epidemic and has implications for the delivery of health services. Its economic implications can result in loss of productivity, increased mortality and morbidity, and decreased life expectancy.”
According to the Caricom official, an unhealthy population will not suffice to sustain other developments despite the advancements being made. Calls were made for countries to place emphasis at the community levels to achieve health targets.
“It is timely and necessary as a community that we examine our challenges, opportunities, and approaches in going forward. Being mindful that despite technological advances, we will always remain dependent on a healthy and vibrant population to sustain the gains that we have made over the years.”
“The Caricom Secretariat wishes to add our voice to the call for action that includes more community-based solutions for addressing the unhealthy lifestyle practices and a paradigm shift to the all of society approach for mainstreaming health into all sectors and working together at all levels to build a future for our next generation,” Royer added.
It was reported at the wellness week event that Guyana is making efforts to reduce Non-Communicable Diseases among the population. A whopping 76.8 per cent of persons in the Caribbean die from Non-Communicable Diseases – of which 30 per cent are cardiovascular diseases. A 2017 study showed that for every 100,000 persons in Guyana, 345 were dying from chronic NCDs. An estimated 60,000 persons are affected by diabetes – some of whom do not know their status.