Basseterre, St. Kitts (November 15, 2004): Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Technology, Information and Sustainable Development Hon. Nigel Carty said Sunday that St. Kitts and Nevis needs to increase its level of physical activity and eat healthy.
The minister was referring to troubling statistics concerning the health landscape among the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean specifically in relation to hypertension and diabetes. He added that lifestyle changes among the people of the Region are necessary to curtail grave social and economic implications.
Representing Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas at the official opening of the week of activities for the St. Pauls Chapter of the Diabetes and Hypertensive Association, Minister Carty revealed the alarming statistics released by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He said that the observed trend over the last 40 years has highlighted an escalation of lifestyle related chronic diseases and the W.H.O. has projected a doubling of these diseases by 2025 in the Americas with most of it happening in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Minister Carty said this would have an enormous impact on the quality of life of our population. He added that the problem would be compounded by existing forecasts in the region in relation to HIV/AIDS.
The minister said while education and awareness programmes need to increase so does compliance by patients to the advice of health professionals.
Minister Carty reiterated his governments commitment to enhance the availability of necessary medications, more aggressive screening programmes, promotion of healthy lifestyle habits, development of health care resources, strengthening of child development programmes and support of community health programmes.
He added that future attempts to address the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension must be a collaborative venture involving individuals, government and the private sector.
