BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Federation’s Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris has disclosed that the level of Obesity is more than 30% among children in the Caribbean.
That announcement came during today’s (July 11) sitting of the National Assembly, where he was updating the House on what transpired during talks on Non-Communicable Diseases at the recently held Heads of Government Conference in Grenada.
The topic of NCDs was discussed, as it is a growing problem within the region at all levels.
Dr. Harris explained that Obesity among children (especially girls) within primary and secondary schools is of particular concern to health officials.
Dr. Harris, who is the lead head in the Quasi CARICOM Cabinet with responsibility for Human Resource Development, Health and HIV, stated that regional leaders had adopted several recommendations to deal with the growing problem among children.
Among the recommendations agreed upon is the implementation of tax measures on beverages and other manufactured foods “which is aimed at reducing their sugary content”.
“As we target the young people, we are targeting the generation after us. And the advice is that we have to begin in our schools; in our school meals programme throughout the region to look at what we are offering to our young people which may act to their predilection for sweet and salty products,” Dr. Harris said.
He explained that it means people would have to discard the things they have grown accustomed to in addition to the menu of the offerings within the schools, which include corn curls and other processed foods.
The Prime Minister advised that fresh foods which provide more natural additives should be used instead of those with the addition of sugar through processing.
“We were also asked to support the introduction of compulsory standards for salt and trans-fat in our foods. And we must commit to have public education on the dangers of high sugar and salt in our food,” PM Harris said.
Like many other CARICOM states, St. Kitts and Nevis has a growing problem with NCDs, especially Hypertension, Cancer and Diabetes.
Just recently, during an SKNVibes interview, it was revealed that the Federation continues to see increasing cases of new individuals being diagnosed with Diabetes.
Members of the St. Kitts Diabetes Association have been working around the clock with their public education campaign to minimize amputation due to poor management of the ailment.
During a recent SKNVibes interview, PRO of the Association, Dr. Reginald O’Loughlin pointed out that they are disappointed with the growing number of new cases.
