KINGSTON, Jamaica — Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are affecting more young people now, according to health authorities.

Noting that most deaths in Jamaica are now caused by people having NCDs including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases, the Jamaica Medical Foundation (JMF) in a statement on Wednesday said NCDs are no longer solely “old people’s disease”.

“We now see children getting cancer, diabetes and hypertension. Child obesity is now on the rise,” the JMF said.

In the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the JMF, Dr Cathi Ann Williams from the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Health told the attendees that it is important that the health screening process and checking of individual’s health status begin at an earlier age.

“We are witnessing an increase in childhood obesity, hypertension and inactivity among young people as well as a prevalence of a diet of fast foods all of which contribute to NCDs,” Dr Williams told the audience at the AGM.

She said the health ministry is moving decisively to deal with this unfortunate trend through the Jamaica Moves Programme to combat inactivity and the Know Your Numbers programme to encourage screening for early detection. The ministry is also developing partnerships with schools and companies to improve diets.

Dr Williams stressed the importance of knowing your health status to take early steps to deal with any potential NCDs.

For his part, Orville Johnson, the chairman of the Jamaica Medical Foundation emphasised the importance of personal responsibility in health matters.

Johnson said there is so much information on health available on the internet and other trusted places such as the health ministry’s website, so persons should inform themselves about health matters.

“More importantly make an effort to know your health status and get your screenings done. It is like a car, it needs to be maintained properly or it will “pop down,” the chairman said, adding that “whereas you can buy another car, you have one body, so you need to take care of it”.

Johnson further noted that the Jamaica Medical Foundation in partnership with the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) has been conducting annual health and wellness fairs to both encourage members of the public to do health checks and provide health Information. One of the features of these health fairs has been the use of testimonials from some members of the public who have conquered their NCDs.

Johnson also stressed the importance of health insurance in helping persons to access treatment. He lamented the fact that only just over 800,000 persons have group health insurance in Jamaica and only about 40 per cent of the workforce has group health insurance.

Johnson noted that the insurance industry paid $27.4 billion in health insurance benefits in 2023. He added that with the rise of NCDs in 2023, $1.9 billion in critical illness claims were paid out as more persons were buying this type of coverage than before.