BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CONCERNS continue to be raised over the level of obesity in the Federation, specifically among children in some parishes.
The alarm has been sounded by Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Assembly the Hon. Mark Brantley, as St. Kitts and Nevis joins the rest of the world in recognising today (Mar. 9) as World Kidney Day.
Celebrated under the theme, ‘Kidney Disease and Obesity’, the Minister’s statement indicated that it is not only relevant on the global level - where over 600 million persons are obese - but also nationally, “where over 70 percent of the adult population is overweight or obese”.
Further, it was revealed that in the parishes, up to 30 percent of children in between the ages of zero and five years are either overweight or obese.
“Obesity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension which contribute to the development of end stage renal disease. These conditions are also prevalent in our population here on Nevis, with a recent study estimating that the prevalence of diabetes is 17 percent and hypertension 24 percent.
“This year’s World Kidney Day campaign, promotes education about the harmful consequences of obesity and advocates living a healthy lifestyle. The Ministry of Health continues to adopt this approach of health education, which promotes lifestyle changes across all demographics of the population through its various programmes.”
Non-communicable diseases constitute one of the leading causes of death in St. Kitts and Nevis, and the government, at the Federal level, has in recent times made a concerted effort to combat the problem, through more education.
Even calling on persons to change their diet so that it incorporated more locally-grown produce and moving away from foods that contain trans-fats.
That call comes ahead of the proposed roll out of the government’s health insurance scheme which is expected to come on stream next year.
The Nevis Island Administration has implemented programmes in the schools which have a focus on “healthy diet and physical activity”, which according to Brantley, “are also key in reducing the risk of kidney disease”.
“Secondary health promotion initiatives conducted by the Ministry of Health, include screening activities, which facilitate early detection of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
“Screening exercises are conducted at health centres, workplaces, as well as via outreach activities and have been successful in bringing newly diagnosed persons into care and treatment at the six health centres around the island. In 2015, 12 cases of hypertension were diagnosed and 37 cases of diabetes.”
Brantley, who is a Senior Minister in the Federal Government, pointed out that the NIA “remains committed to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Through our programmes and policies, we continue to work towards a reduction in the incidence of these diseases which, not only impact our health but our economy as well.”
The National NCD Policy and Plan 2013-2017, outlines several initiatives, including the development of legislation to support health promotion activities and the implementation of research initiatives.
