St. Kitts and Nevis among top five for NCD-Related Deaths, says PAHO

WASHINGTON, DC — ST. KITTS and Nevis ranks among the top five countries in the Americas with the highest mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The announcement came yesterday (Jul. 15) as PAHO discussed the growing economic toll of NCDs across the region, particularly in South America. While the latest data focused on South American countries, SKNVibes News raised concerns about the Caribbean—specifically St. Kitts and Nevis—during a press briefing.

Responding to the inquiry, Dr. Silvana Luciani, Unit Chief for Noncommunicable Diseases at PAHO, confirmed the severity of the issue in the region.  She acknowledged that the Caribbean region have a much higher NCD burden compared to the other sub-regions in the Americas..

She noted that St. Kitts and Nevis is classified among the top five countries with “high” NCD mortality, citing alarming rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

"And a lot of it has to do with the higher rates of obesity and diabetes and hypertension. So in St. Kitts and Nevis, about a quarter of the population has obesity, about a fifth has diabetes and about a quarter with hypertension," she eplained.

Health officials, including those within government and the local diabetes association, have long called for residents to take proactive steps toward better health. NCDs—which include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer—remain the leading causes of death in the twin-island Federation.

This growing health crisis has reignited discussions around public health policy, including potential increases in taxes on sugary drinks and unhealthy food imports across the Caribbean. PAHO has expressed support for such measures, referencing Barbados as a positive example where sugar-sweetened beverage consumption has declined following the implementation of a health tax.

"And it's also again a way to help improve the health budget and reinvest some of the funding that is generated from these health taxes back into health programmes,” Dr. Luciani added.

Beyond public health concerns, the economic impact of NCDs is substantial. The illnesses often sideline working-age individuals, reduce productivity, strain local healthcare systems, and ultimately contribute to premature deaths.

Calls are now growing louder for stronger regional policies aimed at curbing the consumption of sugar-laden products and promoting healthier lifestyles.

Editor’s Note: Although the press conference focused on South American nations, PAHO confirmed that St. Kitts and Nevis falls within the top five for NCD-related deaths based on available data. However, no specific statistics were released for the Caribbean during the event.