Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has often identified lifestyle-related, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension and cardio-vascular ailments among the biggest challenges facing this country.

Not only are such diseases among the leading causes of death globally, they are also a major burden on national economies and on the pockets of individuals and households.

Here, it’s estimated that NCDs cost billions of Jamaican dollars annually for public and private sector medical bills, pharmaceuticals, and lost production time.

And yet, much could be avoided with lifestyle changes such as avoidance of cigarette smoking and much lower consumption of sugar, salt, fats, etc, and alcohol.

Equally, experts say regular physical exercise significantly reduces the risk of diabetes, hypertension, strokes, heart attack, and related ailments.

Recognition of the need for a deliberate strategy to increase physical activity motivated the health ministry’s popular Jamaica Moves initiative of a few years back.

Most readers will recall that Jamaica Moves, twinned to efforts to significantly reduce sugar intake, had people in workplaces, schools, homes, etc, involved in daily, structured fitness activities in the years just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

Sadly, controversy linked to allegations — vehemently denied by Dr Tufton and his aides — that he inappropriately influenced private sector contracts; as well as an unseemly tussle over brand ownership, triggered a loss of credibility and momentum for Jamaica Moves.

That’s although there have been efforts to rebrand the project in schools.

COVID-19, which led to a lengthy pause for group-based recreational activity and sport, did not help.

Obviously, the need for people of all ages to be actively engaged in physical exercise and recreation remains as essential as ever.

Hence the grave concern among members of the sporting fraternity published in this newspaper on Thursday about what’s described as significant decline in physical education (PE) sessions in Jamaican schools.

Minister of Education and Youth Mrs Fayval Williams assures us that “in our schools we do timetables that include PE” and further that “across the length and breadth of Jamaica it is encouraged…”

However, sports consultant Ms Carole Beckford claims “the number of PE teachers in schools has been cut for a while now…”

Our reporter tells us of a preparatory school principal identifying the cost of renting a field for training and playing games as major hurdles curtailing sports programmes. The unnamed educator was also reported as saying that the restart of the school’s PE programme in the aftermath of the pandemic was hindered by the high cost of hiring a specialist.

For sure, we all know from hard, visual evidence that many schools have very little physical space close at hand for outdoor recreation. That’s something Jamaicans and their leaders should strive to correct.

It’s an unfortunate fact that debate surrounding the enabling of sport and recreation is usually on the back burner at election time such as now.

We believe that, not just for the municipal poll later this month but crucially for the parliamentary election due next year, Jamaicans should be forcibly making their voices heard on this issue.