Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the leading causes of death globally, killing more people each year than all other causes combined. Much of the human and social impact caused each year by NCD-related deaths could be averted through well-understood, cost-effective and feasible interventions.

International organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), have called on all stakeholders to work in partnership to prevent and control NCDs. This is generally referred to as a multi-sectoral approach, and sometimes as an All of Society approach, where everyone should work together in order to tackle this public health epidemic.{{more}}

Research data, including those from the National Health and Nutrition Surveys (NHNS) recently conducted in St Vincent and the Grenadines, have shown that the prevalence of NCDs in St Vincent and the Grenadines has been on the rise. The four major risk factors: tobacco smoking, the abuse of alcohol, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet have also raised concerns in our population.

The data showed that our young people are initiating smoking at younger ages. This means that they will smoke longer, thus increasing their chances of getting or worsening these chronic diseases.

Alcohol consumption is also on the rise, with females also consuming large quantities of strong alcoholic drinks. The abuse of alcohol not only has health impact, but also is a major cause of social issues, including violence, injury and accidents.

Inactivity and diet are also of major concern. Strong evidence shows that physical inactivity increases the risk of many adverse health conditions, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as coronary heart disease (CHD), type 2 diabetes, and breast and colon cancers, and shortens life expectancy.

Unhealthy diets, rich in saturated fat, oil, high in energy, salt and sugar and low in fruits and vegetables, and physical inactivity are among the leading causes of major non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), type 2 diabetes, and cancers of non-infectious origin, such as colon, prostate, breast.

Various stakeholders from the public and private sectors and the non-governmental organizations should come together in order to implement intervention programmes to prevent and control NCDs in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

It should be noted that neither Government nor the Ministry of Health can do it alone. The Ministry should therefore set a framework and a platform for stakeholders to be engaged, so that they can join in the fight against this epidemic.

Dr Rosmond Adams, MD is a medical doctor and a public health specialist with training in bioethics and ethical issues in medicine, the life sciences and research. He is the Head of Health Information, Communicable Diseases and Emergency Response at the Caribbean Public Health Agency – CARPHA. (The views expressed here are not written on behalf of CARPHA)

Dr Rosmond Adams is a medical doctor and a public health specialist.

He may be emailed at:adamsrosmond@gmail.com