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Health Minister urges Guyanese to change their lifestyles

Dec 27, 2009 News

While the year 2009 has been one in which further progress has been made in delivering health care to the nation, there are many problems that constitute major challenges for the Ministry of Health.
This is according to Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy who is urging for persons to change their lifestyles so as to maintain a healthy body. He explained that the change in lifestyle is not only reflected in the increased high caloric intake, but also in the quality of food.
“It is typical during this season for more fat to be consumed in our diet as lifestyle changes have led to decreased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Changes in dietary habits, reduced physical exercise, coupled with increased consumption of alcohol and tobacco mean that Guyanese have opted for a lifestyle inconsistent with healthy lives,” Dr. Ramsammy noted.
He added that too many young people are engaged in unsafe sex, while drunken driving accidents still occur on the roadways.
“The Ministry of Health therefore urges all Guyanese to reflect, take cautions and to choose lifestyles more conducive to healthy living.”
While, Minister Ramsammy is urging persons to celebrate in a healthy way, he advised for efforts to be strengthened in 2010 and that persons be committed to change in behaviour and thus living healthier lives.
Recently, Kaieteur News had reported that as a result of persons living with diabetes and hypertension in Guyana, abnormal lipid (fat) profiles have been developed in their system, including high cholesterol.
But the Ministry of Health cannot afford to treat the approximately 12,000 persons who need lipid-lowering medicines.
Currently, it cost the Health Ministry $75 million per year to procure the drugs that treat just 1,000 persons. If the 12,000 persons are to be treated, then it would cost between $500 million to $1 billion per year to procure all the drugs.
It was noted that just over 60,000 persons are living with diabetes and hypertension in Guyana.
About 55% of these persons are overweight or obese and about 20% of them have abnormal lipid profile, including high cholesterol.
Both these problems (overweight and obesity and high cholesterol) are as a result of poor lifestyle choices.
Presently about 1, 000 of these persons are treated for lipid abnormality, particularly high cholesterol, in the public health sector.
(Fareeza Haniff)

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