Jamaicans Urged to Take Responsibility for their Health

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), in the Ministry of Health and Environment, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, has issued an appeal to Jamaicans, to take responsibility for their health and come together to stop the current scourge of chronic non-communicable diseases, that have been affecting the region.
Delivering the Message for Caribbean Wellness Day (September 13), Dr. Campbell-Forrester revealed that thousands of Caribbean nationals die yearly, from complications associated with chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, strokes and cancers, and warned that many more would die, if the people do not work together to reduce the high incidence of these diseases.
“It is with this awareness that Jamaica, along with other Caribbean member states, have entered into a binding partnership to reduce the chronic disease burden in the sub-region,” she explained, noting that starting this year, the second Saturday in September has been declared Caribbean Wellness Day, in commemoration of a landmark Chronic Disease Summit, held in Trinidad and Tobago in September 2007.
This summit, she said, has paved the way for renewed impetus and focus on the prevention and better management of lifestyle-related conditions.
Pointing to the socio-economic impact of these diseases, she pointed out that they come at a high cost to the individual and at an enormous cost to countries in the region, in terms of expensive treatment, man-hours that health workers spend caring for those affected, loss of productive time and income, resulting in loss of potential contribution to the growth of the economy.
Chronic non-communicable diseases, she said, are preventable and are chiefly the outcome of harmful food choices and low levels of physical activity and smoking.
The observation of Caribbean Wellness Day, under the theme, ‘Love Your Body – Treat Your Body Right’, Dr. Campbell-Forrester explained, is carefully organised to further heighten awareness about the dangers of poor eating habits and other risk factors. “Taking part in the inaugural celebration of Caribbean Wellness Day, is one fundamental way you can begin to take responsibility for your health,” she said.
Dr. Campbell-Forrester also encouraged the nation to join in the Caribbean Wellness Day activities that will be staged across the island. The national activity will be a Caribbean Wellness Day Health Fair, at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) western car park in Downtown Kingston, a collaborative event of the Ministry of Health and Environment, the Red Cross, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, the Diabetes Association, the Cancer Society, the National Health Fund and many other health-related organisations.
“Remember, it is our responsibility to safeguard our health. So, let us start today,” the CMO encouraged.