Tackling the hidden killers

“Unite Against Chronic Diseases – Stop the Epidemic”, goes the jingle.

It's part of a campaign aimed at getting Caribbean people to focus on the underhand killers in the region.

Everybody knows what HIV/ AIDS can do but many people don't give as much serious attention to the region's other killers.

Hear the jingle created by regional communications professionals

Not just the "other killers": high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes account for most of the Caribbean's illnesses and deaths.

Caribbean Community (Caricom) health experts are meeting this weekend in Trinidad's capital, Port of Spain.

Their hope is to set the stage for individual and community action leading to reduction in the incidence of such chronic diseases as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stroke and some forms of cancer.

They plan to get a range of people to take ownership of the problem: from decision-makers to civic organisations and the media.

The facts

So-called "Life-style diseases" have become the main health challenge facing the region's health services.

It is reckoned that in 2001 the combined economic burden of diabetes and high blood pressure, in US dollar terms, if the diseases were properly treated, would be well over a billion dollars.

It comes from bad food choices and low levels of physical activity as well as wider choices available to the average Caribbean person.

The concern by Caricom leaders is not purely altruistic: such illness affects national productivity and health budgets.

Obesity has been identified as one of the biggest problems.

How not to be fat: a guide from the experts

Grow your own

It's not just about what you shop for.

The Caribbean Commission on Health and Development (CCHD) also recommends closer regulation of food imports and licensing laws.

The idea is to ensure that consumers know the contents of the foods they eat and that food security is pursued in the context of incentives for local production of the fruits, vegetables and whole grains which people need for a healthy diet.

But it doesn't end there.

The CCHD argues that this weight reduction education must start in the region's schools.

There's also a push for mothers to return to breast feeding and even goes as far as urging people to use their seatbelts when driving.

What more can the Caribbean do to get healthy? Your views are welcome.