Editorials and Views

The time of year has come when we celebrate with friends and family. As we do so, we reach beyond these close ties with similar goodwill to others. For this is the time when the joy and happiness of Christmas bring prayer, reflection, and generosity. This is when we delight in fellowship with members of our community celebrating the birth of the Saviour.
Also, for many of us living abroad, this is when we remember friends and families far away in the many places left behind following our journey abroad.
Let us also not forget this is the time of year when we commit to new resolutions. We do this in order to make our lives better, and which we valiantly try to upkeep in the year ahead.
Perhaps the time has come for each of us to take a closer look at our personal health. From what we have been seeing back home, it has now become important for many of us with genetic roots to the Caribbean to take a look at what is happening in our homelands with a view to ensuring our lifestyle choices in the year ahead remain healthy ones.
The research is sobering, and calls to us to seriously consider reflection and decision-making that impact positively on our health and lifestyles as the New Year unfolds.
According to studies conducted by UWI, it is estimated one in every four adults in some Caricom countries have diabetes. There is similar anxiety over the figures showing a doubling of overweight and obese children who are less than five years old. As we know, obesity is one of the major risk factors for Type 2 diabetes.
UWI’s studies also show both obesity and diabetes tend to be significantly higher in women than men. On average, women are twice as likely to be obese and 60 percent are more likely to have diabetes.
If we really need an eye-opener on why a commitment to bettering our personal health should be made come the end of this year, back in 2014 it was found some 61,800 persons were diagnosed in Guyana with diabetes. Startling as this figure was two years ago, it was further revealed that some 15,400 persons were unaware they suffered with the affliction. Needless to say, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in Guyana.
Similarly, the figures are not healthy in Trinidad and Tobago. Childhood obesity has been found to be in epidemic proportions, with a body mass index survey of school children five to 18 years old revealing overweight and obesity numbers increasing from 11 percent in 1999 to 23 percent in 2009. A new survey is due to be conducted next year.
Also in Trinidad and Tobago, according to media reports last October, it was found heart disease accounts for 25 percent of deaths; while diabetes claims 14 percent, cardiovascular disease claims ten percent, and cancer responsible for 13 percent of deaths. These diseases account for over 62 percent of all deaths in Trinidad and Tobago annually.
Last week in a recent study from the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the United States Centers for Disease Control, it was found the rates of death from cervical cancer, breast, prostate and colon cancer are two to nine times higher in the Caribbean compared to the US. The study reported prostate cancer accounted for 18-47 percent of cancer deaths; lung cancer accounts for five to 24 percent of deaths in Caribbean males. Breast cancer was the main cause of cancer mortality among women, and accounted 14-30 percent of cancer deaths, up to two times higher compared to the US. The study noted cancer to be the second leading cause of death in the Caribbean.
As we enjoy the festive season, let us keep in mind the objective to commit to a healthy lifestyle in 2017.

December 21, 2016 issue
Editorial
Healthy commitment
The time of year has come when we celebrate with friends and family. As we do so, we reach beyond these close ties with similar goodwill to others. For this is the time when the joy and happiness of Christmas bring prayer, reflection, and generosity. This is when we delight in fellowship with members of our community celebrating the birth of the Saviour. Also, for many of us living abroad, this is when we remember friends and families far away in the many places left behind following our journey abroad. Let us also not forget this is the time of year when we commit to new resolutions. We do this in order to make our lives better, and which we valiantly try to upkeep in the year ahead. Perhaps the time has come for each of us to take a closer look at our personal health. From what we have been seeing back home, it has now become important for many of us with genetic roots to the Caribbean to take a look at what is happening in our homelands with a view to ensuring our lifestyle choices in the year ahead remain healthy ones. The research is sobering, and calls to us to seriously consider reflection and decision-making that impact positively on our health and lifestyles as the New Year unfolds. According to studies conducted by UWI, it is estimated one in every four adults in some Caricom countries have diabetes. There is similar anxiety over the figures showing a doubling of overweight and obese children who are less than five years old. As we know, obesity is one of the major risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. UWI’s studies also show both obesity and diabetes tend to be significantly higher in women than men. On average, women are twice as likely to be obese and 60 percent are more likely to have diabetes. If we really need an eye-opener on why a commitment to bettering our personal health should be made come the end of this year, back in 2014 it was found some 61,800 persons were diagnosed in Guyana with diabetes. Startling as this figure was two years ago, it was further revealed that some 15,400 persons were unaware they suffered with the affliction. Needless to say, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in Guyana. Similarly, the figures are not healthy in Trinidad and Tobago. Childhood obesity has been found to be in epidemic proportions, with a body mass index survey of school children five to 18 years old revealing overweight and obesity numbers increasing from 11 percent in 1999 to 23 percent in 2009. A new survey is due to be conducted next year. Also in Trinidad and Tobago, according to media reports last October, it was found heart disease accounts for 25 percent of deaths; while diabetes claims 14 percent, cardiovascular disease claims ten percent, and cancer responsible for 13 percent of deaths. These diseases account for over 62 percent of all deaths in Trinidad and Tobago annually. Last week in a recent study from the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the United States Centers for Disease Control, it was found the rates of death from cervical cancer, breast, prostate and colon cancer are two to nine times higher in the Caribbean compared to the US. The study reported prostate cancer accounted for 18-47 percent of cancer deaths; lung cancer accounts for five to 24 percent of deaths in Caribbean males. Breast cancer was the main cause of cancer mortality among women, and accounted 14-30 percent of cancer deaths, up to two times higher compared to the US. The study noted cancer to be the second leading cause of death in the Caribbean. As we enjoy the festive season, let us keep in mind the objective to commit to a healthy lifestyle in 2017.

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