A NEW STUDY has indicated that poor health and death in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean are primarily caused by obesity.
Information Minister Senator Burchell Whiteman told journalists during yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, that Professor George Alleyne, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), outlined the findings of the study to Cabinet yesterday.
Professor Alleyne is also the chairman of the Caribbean Commission of Health and Development and has been presenting the results of the study, on issues related to Caribbean policy development, and management of health and development, to regional cabinets.
According to Professor Alleyne, poor health, death, and loss of productivity, are primarily caused by obesity and related illnesses, followed by cancer, HIV/AIDS, and violence related conditions.
REGIONAL APPROACH NEEDED
Senator Whiteman said it was suggested that a regional approach be taken in fighting the killer conditions.
"While we did not have an exhaustive discussion on the matter, what the Chancellor left with us was a set of issues for consideration at the regional level," Senator Whiteman said.
He added: "But obviously we would have to reflect on them first at the national level."
The Commission recommended that health tourism be vigorously pursued and that a Caribbean-wide approach should be taken in dealing with obesity, much as is now done with HIV/AIDS.
It was also recommended that the HIV/AIDS approach as well as public health infrastructure be strengthened and expanded.
"The Commission is recommending a Caribbean-wide health insurance approach and is also recommending a look at the policy on the export of human resources particularly in the area of the nursing service," Senator Whiteman added.
The Information Minister pointed out that Jamaica loses a large number of nurses to other countries and that it might be necessary to review the policy as well as train more nurses to supply both the local and overseas markets.
The nation, according to Senator whiteman boasts a life expectancy ahead of the Caribbean and United States averages.
He noted too that it was recommended that other regional nations adopt the use of a survey of living conditions, similar to Jamaica's, in efforts to understand the impact of lifestyles on health.
