In terms of economic impact, Jamaica is projected to lose US$18.45 billion for the period 2015-2030 due to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including mental health, which are driving up premature deaths in the country.

This was stated by the Director, Health Promotion and Protection Branch, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Simone Spence. She was addressing last Wednesday’s media launch of a Health Restoration and Wellness Optimization Symposium at the Pegasus hotel. The symposium which is slated to run from February 26 to March 1, is a partnership between the renown Uchee Pines Lifestyle Centre based in Alabama, USA and the Health Ministries Department of the Andrews Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“When we speak about NCDs it’s not just a health issue, it’s also an economic and developmental issue as well,” Spence stated.

She highlighted that globally, seven out of 10 lives are lost each year due to NCDs with Jamaica being no exception. The health promotion director outlined that one in three Jamaicans is hypertensive, with one in three being pre-hypertensive. Alarmingly, up to 40 per cent are unaware that their blood pressure is elevated. Additionally, one in eight has diabetes with more than 50 per cent unaware of their status and one in two being either overweight or obese, a major risk factor for NCDS.

Spence said Jamaica was facing an NCD crisis that requires all hands on deck to combat. She noted that lifestyle habits were driving up the numbers.

“The vast majority of Jamaicans consume less than the daily intake of fruits and vegetables and more than 30 per cent live a sedentary lifestyle which contributes to NCDs,” said Spence.

Alarmingly, Jamaica is among the top 10 countries in the Americas for diabetes and cancer complications and deaths with diabetes being the number one killer. For men, the main cause of death is stroke and cancer remains the leading cause of death accounting for almost 24 per cent of NCD-related fatalities in 2020, with breast and prostate cancers being the leading causes.

“And in the short span of 10 years breast cancer deaths would have increased by 63 per cent while prostate cancer would have risen by 25 per cent,” Spence shared.

She told the launch that there was also a significant increase from 2006 – 2021 in the age-standardised mortality rate for diabetes, hypertensive disease, ischemic heart disease and breast cancer.

Spence said this was not because the population was ageing but rather because of an increase in the conditions regardless of the age structure of the population. The concern is that Jamaicans are being increasingly affected with NCDs in the prime of their lives and thus are dying younger.

“While these numbers highlight a major public health challenge, it also presents an opportunity because lifestyle changes can significantly reduce these risks and improve overall health,” said Spence.

She described the upcoming symposium as both timely and essential with its focus on prevention and lifestyle changes and holistic wellbeing which she noted can “empower individuals to take charge of their health, reduce their own risks and ultimately improve our country’s overall health”.