NCD Committee Welcomes Heart Month Focus on Healthy Diet

The National Committee on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCNCD) is commending the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) for using Heart Month in February to sensitise Jamaicans about the importance of adopting healthy dietary practices to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Speaking at the recent Heart Month Launch, Committee Chairman, Professor Trevor Ferguson, said the NCNCD supports the HFJ’s efforts to promote healthy eating for a healthy heart.

“This initiative aligns with a broader, whole-of-society approach to tackling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country,” he said.

Highlighting the critical role of a healthy diet in preventing CVDs, such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, Professor Ferguson noted that these conditions remain the leading cause of death in Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and globally.

He cited data from the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), which indicated that 6,825 deaths in Jamaica in 2020 were attributed to CVDs, accounting for 32 per cent of all deaths and 41 per cent of deaths from NCDs.

“The Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey (JHLS) further reveals alarming statistics, including 9,000 individuals living with a history of heart attacks, 25,000 with a history of stroke, and another 9,000 individuals diagnosed with heart failure,” Professor Ferguson lamented. He noted further that the rate of diet-related cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and obesity continue to rise across the nation.

“It is crucial to recognise that early life factors, such as foetal growth, birth weight and childhood nutrition, contribute significantly to the development of CVDs in adulthood. Additionally, the food environment, shaped by upstream social and economic factors like agricultural and trade policies, plays a pivotal role in influencing health outcomes,” Professor Ferguson contended.

The NCNCD Chair also highlighted concerning trends in dietary habits from the JHLS. Just 26 per cent of Jamaicans consume the recommended daily servings of fruits, and 38 per cent consume the required amount of vegetables. The MOHW recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Meanwhile, 22 per cent of children report frequent fast-food consumption, and 16 per cent of Jamaicans drink one or more sugar-sweetened beverages daily.

“Alarmingly”, Professor Ferguson continued, “67 per cent of individuals consume more salt than the recommended daily limit, while 89 per cent consume insufficient potassium”.

The NCNCD has pledged full support for the observation of Heart Month.