EDITORIAL: Greater national effort needed to reduce NCDs

LATE last year, a new plan to reduce cardiovascular disease by eliminating trans-fatty acids from industrial food production by the year 2025, was agreed on by the countries of the Americas, given that cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death in the hemisphere.

According to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), “The Action Plan to Eliminate Trans-fatty Acids from Industrial Production 2020-2025, approved by the 57th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organisation, promotes regulatory action to eliminate a key contributor to some 160,000 deaths in the Americas each year. Evidence shows that diets rich in trans fats increase the risk of heart disease by 21% and the risk of death by 28%.”

“Trans fats are harmful substances that cause damage to people’s health,” PAHO Director, Carissa F. Etienne, is quoted as stating. She stressed that to eliminate them, “voluntary measures are not enough. Regulatory measures must be applied in order to protect all populations”.

PAHO goes on to note that just a few years ago, public health authorities and representatives of the food and cooking oil industries signed the Trans-fat Free Americas: Declaration of Rio de Janeiro – promoted by PAHO – in which they expressed a commitment to eliminating trans-fatty acids of industrial origin. Despite the agreement, however, trans fats are still used in at least 27 of 35 PAHO Member States.

“The countries that have restricted or eliminated trans fats since this agreement are Argentina (2010), Canada (2017), Chile (2009), Colombia (2012), Ecuador (2013), United States (2015), Peru (2016), and Uruguay (2017). Currently, Bolivia is developing regulations on trans fats, and Brazil and Paraguay are at an advanced stage of a similar process,” PAHO notes.

Now here in Barbados, whilst we may not directly be part of initiatives to eliminate trans fats at a national level, we can see from the efforts above that we too need to do more to ensure that those who produce foods for local consumption, do better at ensuring they are prepared in a healthy way. We have a number of fast food restaurants on our island and in most cases, the ratio of healthy foods compared to those that are unhealthy, are truly unbalanced. Whilst the onus may be placed on Barbadians to do what they can to eat healthy and protect their health, it must be said that at the national level, Government can and should put policies in place to govern how these fast food restaurants operate and what they do sell to the public, so that their menus are better balanced. Not only fast food restaurants should be targeted, but those in the manufacturing business locally, need to ensure they are offering more healthy products. We have too high of a healthcare bill already, given the increasing rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Now it is a well-known fact that there are several risk factors that contribute to heart disease. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), individuals can cut down their risk for heart disease and other NCDs, by reducing salt intake, reducing alcohol intake, avoiding tobacco, eating fruits and vegetables, and getting physically active consistently. So in the meantime, Barbadians need to do accordingly, to ensure that they can live healthier lives. That said, more can be done at the national level to ensure that those producing foods for consumption, do their part not to contribute to the rise in NCDs.