Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
DESPITE THE nation's frightening crime statistics and high traffic fatality rate, lifestyle diseases are Jamaica's number one killer, accounting for more than 50 per cent of deaths recorded each year.
In outlining the data, chief executive officer of the National Health Fund (NHF), Rae Barrett, identified diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke, heart disease and cancer as the major cause of deaths in Jamaica.
"Sixty-three per cent of the deaths in Jamaica are due to those five chronic lifestyle diseases," Mr. Barrett said. "For every five persons killed in an accident or are murdered, five more die from lifestyle diseases. Lifestyle diseases account for approximately 1,000 deaths each month."
He was giving the keynote address at last Thursday's launch of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay East's Bikeathon 2006/Jamaica Challenge at the Sunset Beach resort in the western city.
To put an even more sobering spin on the danger of lifestyle diseases, Mr. Barrett said 40 per cent of the persons afflicted with these diseases are unaware that they are sick.
REFUSING TO BE HEALTHY
Amazingly, 35 per cent of those aware of their illness have chosen not to do anything to improve their conditions.
"You would not believe it, but some of the same persons who are refusing to get regular medical check-ups are the same people who service their cars regularly," remarked the CEO.
As part of its mandate to help promote healthy lifestyles, Mr. Barrett said the NHF was currently providing funding to help persons purchase prescription drugs for 15 chronic diseases identified for coverage.
"To date, we have 223,000 persons who have enrolled for benefits from the NHF," said Mr. Barrett. "The number of cases of illness we have enrolled is 193,653. That means there is an average of two illnesses per person."
