Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), during the past decade and a half, have eclipsed communicable diseases as the the leading cause of death in Dominica.
Coordinator of the Health Promotion Unit, Mignon Rolle- Shillingford made that statement while addressing the launching ceremony of Caribbean Wellness Day recently.
According to Rolle-Shillingford, NCDs include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, high blood pressure and mental disorder, to name a few.
“Before that meeting in 2007 when we looked at the data why is it that the people of Dominica were dying, a number of the things were things that we call communicable diseases, from infections for example tuberculosis, polio, respiratory conditions, but right now almost 90%of the things that kill Dominicans most are NCD’s,” she said.
She revealed that of the 10 leading causes of death in Dominica for the period 2017-2021, the first was cerebrovascular disease also known as stroke.
“And that is a result of the things we eat,” the health official noted. “Then hIgh blood pressure number 4, respiratory infections number 5 and from 2021 to 2022 we had a new infection…number 7, we have prostate cancer, then we have heart disease and the final ones are other communicable diseases like leptospirosis, dengue,”
Other NCDs include anemia, obesity, and eye disease .
Rolle-Shillingford stated further that NCDs are also the leading cause of death and disabilities in the Caribbean.
“76.8% of the deaths in the Caribbean are from NCDs,” she said.
Rolle-Shillingford went on to say that 30.8 % of that 76.8% die of cardiovascular disease (heart disease). Cancer causes 17.2% and diabetes 10.8%.
“We can prevent it or delay its onset so we do not have to get cancer and die; we do not have to get diabetes; we do not have to get high blood pressure; we do not have to get respiratory conditions. All of this can be avoided by improving our risk factors,” Rolle-Shillingford asserted.
She explained that risk factors include alcohol consumption and smoking among many others.
“We need to address alcohol consumption amongst the population,” she remarked. “Tobacco smoke and tobacco smoking is one of the behaviours that not only affects the individual who is smoking, but also affects all persons receiving second-hand smoke.”
Rolle-Shillingford warned about the potential negative effect and the dangers of physical inactivity.
“ A number of us sit at our desk because that is what our work entails and even during the pandemic we have spent even more time at our desks. We need to get back moving,” she explained. “And of course eating unhealthy diets.”
Caribbean Wellness Day is set for the second Saturday in September every year and will be celebrated under the theme: “Our Neighbourhood, Our Health.” this year.
It is good statistics can be provided to allow us to evaluate our causes of illnesses and death in Dominica. More now than ever about a third of eye surgery lists have to be canceled because of poorly controlled hypertension in spite of referring the patients to doctors preoperative to manage their hypertension. Also the increasing number of patients on dialysis reflects poor control of NCDs.
Value Added Calories is a term I coined to refer to what we consume compared to the generations before. Instead of plain boiled bananas or breadfruit these foods are made into pies or fried increasing their calorie content leading to increase obesity. Add reduced physical activity results in increase risk of NCDs. This state of poor health of our nation is robbing its wealth that can be used elsewhere.
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Presently more people are dying in Dominica due to the covid vacinne. Post Covid vacinne people are dying suddenly, suddenly, suddenly.
All the above being said, it is not the FOOD that we eat, the ONLY source of illness in human being. Most importantly it is one’s life style that is the Major cause of concern.
Every human being is in a relationship. Therefore, it is the problems of LIFE that is more so the cause of negative stress that causes the rise in high blood pressure, and by extension heart, stokes etc.
Why is there no mention of the negative stress that every human being goes through in life? weather it be at home, neighbours, work, on the street, traffic and every place of congregation, etc etc.
Ninety (90) percent of illness is not from the FOOD we eat. Human beings have more problems in life than the food we eat.
Reaching out to the nation on a more happy life of peace, love, joy, harmony, and godliness, life style would certainly bring healing to our nation and the rest of the world.
Well too much srewo and bon temps is not good May be OK fro the politicians but not for you
This simple advice can assist to extend the lives of Dominicans.
Don’t purchase foods in the supermarket that our grandparents would not be able to recognise – the Ramin- noodles, the new brands of cereals, anything written on the food packages that you cannot pronounce nor read, etc.
These are some frightening statistics but preventable diseases. The statistics show that Dominicans are digging their graves with their mouths.
Too many cheap starchy, fatty, oily, and cholesterol laden foods are consumed by the populace. The more nutritious, healthful foods are beyond the pockets of the average consumers. Inflation, starvation wages and joblessness have seriously diminished the purchasing power of the most of the citizens and residents.
We need to eat more green, leafy, nutritious foods and provisions that are grown locally. The salty, oily, cheap ham and turkey gifted to the people at Christmas time by the incumbent government only serve to contribute to the chronic health problems of the recipients.
…and the Kentucky Fried whatever served by our Lebanese friend doesn’t help either. I mean it’s not good for your health but it serves mister to get rich on all your back.
They have a lot to answer for but the CM looks after them.
They are a massive risk factor to Dominicans. Look at all the rubbish they import and sell to us for lots of money and pretend they doing us a favour.
Good advice on highlighting the incidents of and resultant deaths from things which are avoidable. How about a campaign to drive home the relevant points to reverse the causes with simple slogans which can resonate with adults and kids. I noted that Ms Rolle-Shillingford failed to mention stress as a factor in causing the NCD we are seeing. Back in the day people lived more like family with their community and we were more our brother’s keeper, now it’s more a dog eat dog mentality which permeates society. I guess if you aren’t “red” you are better off dead. In addition the food choices have changed to consuming more processed items in the diet. Dominca has the highest percentage of centenarians in the world but that is quickly changing because we are copying the bad living habits from more developed countries thinking that’s a sign of progress. Government can play a role by using tax and other policies to guide the country towards healthier eating.
Great Observation Jonathan. Check out this article I wrote in 2013
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/musings-of-an-idiosyncratic-economist-tax-policy-and-health/