Global health ministers agree on instrument to battle CNCDs

NASSAU, The Bahamas --- Global Health Ministers reached agreement on a public health policy instrument for tackling one of the world’s fastest growing, most costly and alarming health problems – chronic, non-communicable diseases - during the 63rd World Health Assembly (WHA) held in Geneva, Switzerland.

One of the instrument’s main objectives is to improve healthcare for persons with CNCDs through the further strengthening of local health systems while promoting prevention through education and awareness programmes. The latter will help to decrease the costs associated with treatment of the diseases.

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis, said the instrument is in response to the adverse impact the rapid increases in CNCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, strokes, obesity and chronic respiratory disease are having on world populations, public and private health systems and world governments and economies.

Dr. Minnis returned to New Providence this week after attending both the World Health Assembly meeting and the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting, which was also held in Geneva. The WHA is the governing body of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is comprised of health ministers from WHO’s 193 member-states.

CNCDs, which are preventable, are responsible for almost 35 million deaths worldwide annually with 90 per cent of those deaths occurring before the age of 60 in Developing Countries.

Regional health officials say the diseases have reached “epidemic proportions” in many countries within the region, resulting in the majority of ill-health, suffering and premature death now facing citizens, while producing excessive financial and personal burden on citizens and governments.

They estimate that between three-quarters of one billion dollars to $1.5 billion is being spent annually to treat and prevent these diseases.

A cost-of-illness study conducted by the World Health Organisation in 2007 (WHO) suggests that regional economies stand to lose billions of dollars in “foregone national income” as a result of the CNCDs, particularly heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, if they are not reversed.

World Governments are said to be spending hundreds of billions of dollars annually to treat these illnesses and to promote prevention.

In The Bahamas, local statistics indicate that 60 per cent of the deaths recorded are as a result of the aforementioned CNCDs, which also account for almost 49 per cent of bed space utilised in local hospitals at any given time. They are also a major cause of overflows in emergency rooms.

Statistics further show that a staggering 70 per cent of the population, or seven out of every 10 Bahamians, are either obese or overweight. Additionally, one out of every three Bahamians, or at least one person in every household, is affected by one or more chronic, non-communicable disease.

“If not properly and consistently treated with the right prescription medications and lifestyle choices, these diseases can have catastrophic financial and physical consequences, for example, strokes, heart attacks, hospitalisation, amputations, blindness and even death,” Dr. Minnis said.

Dr. Minnis said while many of these diseases develop slowly, lifestyle changes that increase the risks, are taking place with a stunning speed and sweep. These include the harmful use of alcohol and tobacco, and unhealthy diets which are risk factors for these diseases.

Dr. Minnis said prevention of disease and the promotion of good health are both affordable and effective ways of fighting chronic, non-communicable diseases.

He said CNCDs can be prevented and even reversed when an environment of healthy lifestyles based upon regular physical activity, healthy eating and weight control, along with the avoidance or non-harmful use of alcohol and tobacco.

“Prevention, small portions with regards to diets, healthier lifestyles and healthier meals along with education and awareness and regular exercise are vital to a reversal of the current trend of increasing chronic, non-communicable diseases,” Dr. Minis said.

Dr. Minnis said the Ministry of Health and the Department of Public Health, through their Healthy Lifestyles Secretariat and Food and Nutrition Unit, have implemented a number of initiatives including the Healthy Dozen Clubs, 100-Day Challenge, the Passport to Healthy Living, Back Yard Garden Programme and the National Dietary Food Guide Drum to bring relief to the situation.

 “Health Ministers also recognised that the individuals who are affected most by these chronic, non-communicable diseases are the poor and middle-class who cannot afford to eat healthy meals and so it was determined that these individuals should be encouraged to grow the various healthy food items themselves,” Dr. Minnis said.

 “What it shows is that we are on the right track and have an excellent programme. What we need to do now, however, is to perform an analysis of the programme to see how effective the programme is or how many individuals are involved and promote it even more,” Dr. Minnis added.

By Matt Maura

Bahamas Information Services