The ‘Wellness Revolution’

21.SEP.07

SEARCHLIGHT welcomes the initiative of CARICOM governments to place the issue of healthy living of the Caribbean people so high on their agenda that Heads of Government devoted last weekend to a Summit on Non-Communicable diseases. It is a laudable move which speaks volumes of the seriousness with which the matter is being treated and of the commitments of regional governments to take action in this regard.{{more}}

Benefitting from the input of regional and international experts, and against the backdrop of sobering figures indicating that more than half of all deaths in the CARICOM area result from alcohol abuse, smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, cancers, diabetes and strokes, the leaders came up with a series of agreed-upon actions. These include increased taxes on alcohol and tobacco, the elimination or limitation of smoking in public places, banning the sale, advertising and promotion of tobacco products to children, and legal requirements for advertisers to place effective warning labels on products.

These are very noble commitments, but the real test will come in the implementation process. Increasing taxes on alcohol and tobacco, for instance, will be unpopular among users and abusers of these products. Will CARICOM governments, particularly those with upcoming general elections, have the courage to go ahead with these bold but necessary measures? Or will short-term political gain influence decisions on such critical matters?

In seeking implementation, much emphasis will have to be placed on communication, getting the message across, and not only by the formal, traditional means. It will also require governments to take their political Opposition on board so that it does not become a partisan political issue. Also, governments must be aware of the totality of the picture. It was heartening, therefore, to hear our own Prime Minister making the linkages with increased production of local food at affordable prices. For it makes little sense preaching about greater consumption of fruits and vegetables, if the prices of these are prohibitive.

The “Wellness Revolution,” espoused by Dr. Gonsalves, can only succeed in the context of an agricultural revolution, linked, of course, to the Education Revolution. For that much praised “Education Revolution” is short on agriculture-based content on which the “Wellness Revolution” itself is hinged. We have a big task ahead of us.