Non-communicable disease (NCD) specialist Dr Marcia Johnson-Campbell made a most useful contribution to discussions about public health just recently.

Having said that taxation on sugary beverages by itself is unlikely to significantly reduce occurrence of ailments such as diabetes and hypertension, she asked a most pertinent question.

Said Dr Johnson-Campbell: “Taxation may not be enough; and even if it is that we are bringing in revenue from this tax, what should [it] be used for?”

Our reporter tells us she recommended that revenue from the sugar-related tax be invested in workplace wellness programmes, parks, and public education.

We suspect ring fencing of tax revenue, instead of allowing direct flow to the consolidated fund, is probably not an attractive option for any finance minister — worse in the current environment of extreme crisis bequeathed by Hurricane Melissa’s malicious rampage through western Jamaica.

Yet it seems to us that even if it’s not feasible to dedicate sugar-related tax revenue to specific projects at this time it should be seriously considered up ahead.

Public education aimed at changing generations-old habits, such as the current over-consumption of sweets and sweeteners, is never cheap. But it must be done and stepped up big time to help slow the surge in NCDs, whose toll on lives, health, and well-being is rising at an alarming rate — as is the multi-billion-dollar cost to the badly overstretched health-care system.

We can’t ignore Dr Johnson- Campbell’s warning that “hypertension affects roughly one in three adults, and diabetes affects up to one in five. Stroke is now one of the leading causes of death, with diabetes close behind”.

And also, “More than half of the [Jamaican] population have elevated blood pressure, a quarter have pre-diabetes or diabetes combined…” with many people totally unaware of their health status.

It can’t just be about changing diet. There is also pressing need to proactively encourage physical activity, recreation, and sport for all ages through increased public education and, crucially, via the establishment and maintenance of appropriately equipped green, open spaces. Such facilities enhance not just physical health but mental health and well being.

In that respect, we are pleased at word from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness that, as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the National Housing Trust (NHT) is to establish two such parks — on King’s House lands in St Andrew and also in Manchester.

Dr Holness has repeatedly voiced his Government’s intention to develop recreational spaces as part of the drive for national development. We believe it dovetails neatly with his recent long-overdue announcement of a policy aimed at much-improved beach access for ordinary people.

Two years ago, at the formal launch of the $4.4-billion Portmore Resilience Park which is yet to be completed, the prime minister pledged that in time one such park will be established in all parishes.

For our part, we believe every town, every school, should have suitable recreational areas.

We know that the enormous hole left by Melissa means some plans, possibly including the development of parks, may have to be put on hold for a while. However, the threat posed by declining health across all segments of our population demands action soonest possible.

All must pull together to lobby, put pressure, and ensure such projects actually happen.