WHO said these measures influence the cost, availability and promotion of food products, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, which have contributed to the amazingly high levels of food low self-esteem and preventable diseases in the SIDS. “The climate problems and the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with poverty, unemployment, inequality and the marginalization of minority towns, are fuelling an increase in non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions, ” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the agency’s Director-General.
Crises fuelling disease
Recommendations include accelerating collaboration on early detection, prevention and management; strengthening health systems when confronted with the climate crisis as well as the COVID-19 pandemic; tackling obesity, and providing adequate, eco friendly financial and human resources designed for NCDs and mental health. They also are on track to have the highest prevalence of diabetes among adults in the world, while rates of mental health conditions reach as high as 15 percent in the Caribbean and the Pacific cycles. This follows a two-day meeting in Barbados hosted by the Government, WHO as well as the Pan American Health Firm ( PAHO ), which concluded upon Wednesday. Interventions include the use of wellness taxation, incorporating health in to climate change adaptation plus mitigation efforts, and maintaining NCD and mental wellness services during health events.
Collaborating meant for change
The situation is partially due to multiple overlapping crises affecting countries, WHO explained. The meeting also heard that small island declares are at the forefront associated with rolling out low-cost, high-impact solutions to reduce the most common risk factors of NCDs and mental health.
Reducing the risk
Commercial drivers associated with NCDs also were discussed, such as trade agreements and policies. During the conference, participants identified key recommendations to scale up action towards achieving a one-third reduction in premature mortality from NCDs and suicide, before 2030. Over half of all people living in small island countries are dying too early from preventable diseases and the rate of hypertension is over 30 % in nearly all countries, based on a new WHO data website. SIDS account for 10 of the nations with the highest rates of obesity worldwide.
