Reading Time: 5 minutes

Health Ministries of the Department of the Andrews Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church, in partnership with Uchee Pines, launched their ‘Health Restoration and Wellness Optimization Symposium’ on Wednesday, February 19, at Pegasus Hotel with a strong message—76 per cent of Jamaicans die annually from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and lifestyle changes are needed to see improvement.

Highlighting the persistent threat posed by conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even mental health issues, stakeholders renewed calls for urgent action in combating these health challenges.

The event featured remarks from Pastor Phillip Castell of the East Jamaica Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists; Dr Dudley Hosin, Director of Jamaica’s Health Ministries at the Jamaica Union Conference; Dr Leslie Meade, President of the Medical Association of Jamaica; Dr Omar Z.D. Oliphant, Senior Pastor at Andrews Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist; Professor Floyd Morris, Director of the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of the West Indies; Dr Alfred Dawes, Opposition Spokesperson on Health; and Dr Simone Spence, Director of the Health Promotion and Protection Branch at the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Attendees also heard from a Uchee Pines representative and Mrs. Judith James-Watts, a Jamaican who shared a personal testimonial on the benefits of lifestyle coaching.

Pastor Phillip Castell, representative for Dr Meric Walker, noted that despite ongoing interventions, the burden of NCDs remains a major public health concern, calling for a more integrated approach to tackling risk factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use.

“There are just too many members and citizens in the country who are not living their best lives…” he said. “I hope that Jamaica will benefit from this symposium.”

Dr Hosin noted the importance of consistently promoting initiatives aimed at reducing the prevalence of these diseases, including national campaigns on healthy eating, exercise, and regular medical check-ups. However, the symposium sought to endorse greater community involvement and personal responsibility to make a significant impact.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Spence outlined the severe impact of NCDs, which account for 76 per cent of deaths in Jamaica annually. One in three Jamaicans has high blood pressure, and an additional third are classified as prehypertensive. Worryingly, 40 per cent of those affected are unaware of their condition. Similarly, one in eight Jamaicans has diabetes, with more than half undiagnosed.

The economic burden of NCDs is also significant. Between 2015 and 2030, these diseases, including mental health conditions, are projected to cost Jamaica approximately US$18.45 billion.

“One in eight have diabetes, and more than 50 per cent of them don’t know that they have diabetes. One in two persons is either overweight or obese, which we all know is a major risk factor for NCD. And the vast majority of Jamaicans consume less than the required daily intake, almost 24 per cent of NCD-related fatalities in 2020 with breast and prostate cancers being the leading causes. In the short span of ten years, breast cancer deaths would have increased by sixty-three per cent while prostate cancer has risen by twenty-five per cent. And there has been a significant increase from 1996 to 2021,” she declared.

A poignant focus of the discussions was the role of partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society in strengthening healthcare delivery and access to essential services. Participants also examined the socioeconomic implications of NCDs, particularly their impact on productivity and national development.

Dr Meade also noted that efforts to educate Jamaicans on managing NCDs are “timely and essential.” He declared that fixing the island’s underlying issues with NCDs requires a comprehensive approach, one where both the government and the citizens work together to tackle the issue.

“One in three Jamaicans, fifty and over, suffers from hypertension as you’ve heard before, one in eight has diabetes…patients for complications with these diseases…they’re not being treated,” he said.

“They’re not going for intervention, and so that is a real concern. We also know that we are dying younger from non-communicable diseases. We are seeing where deaths in people less than age 70 are happening more and more,” he added.

Director of the Uchee Pines Lifestyle Educator programme, Jai Hewlett also participated via Zoom noting that Uchee Pines’s mission is to offer better health education and health assistance to those suffering from NCDs.

“We have different help lectures we are going to be covering when we come to you,” he said.

Attendees were encouraged to promote Uchee Pine’s workshops and programs scheduled from February 26 to March 1 at 29 Hope Road, Kingston, aimed at improving health and knowledge about NCDs.

With NCDs accounting for the vast majority of deaths annually, calls were made for enhanced public education and policy measures that prioritise early screening, affordable healthcare, and supportive environments for healthier living.

More photos from the event: