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Regional health expert proposes tax on fast food
A regional health expert is proposing a tax on fast foods across the Caribbean as one way of reducing the high incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs.
Health officials have expressed concern that NCDs could threaten the region's economy given the increasing costs to treat the diseases.
NCDs which mainly include diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases are said to contribute to an estimated 35 million deaths per year globally.
The World Health Organization says this is about 60 % of global deaths and double the number dying from infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions combined.
In the Caribbean, NCDs are of major concern as they are mainly associated with lifestyle-related risk factors that include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, life stresses and the harmful use of alcohol.
Chairman of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, Professor Trevor Hassell believes that a policy geared towards reducing the consumption of fast foods is one way of dealing with the problem.
"One can either use the approach of banning the fast foods from coming into our countries in the Caribbean or one could use a different approach. One could accept that fast foods are a reality but through legislation encourage the development of healthy fast foods” he said.
And Professor Hassell is stressing that regional governments should also consider providing incentives for consumption of traditional healthy foods, given that a large number of persons affected by lifestyle -related diseases cannot afford to eat healthily.
"It requires our policy makers, governments of the region , because there is no point in saying to individuals that they must eat healthily if they can’t afford it….” said Professor Hassell.
The coalition which comprises representatives from several Caribbean countries including Jamaica has launched a text messaging campaign aimed at garnering support for the reduction in the risks associated with Non-communicable diseases.
A regional health expert is proposing a tax on fast foods across the Caribbean as one way of reducing the high incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs.
Health officials have expressed concern that NCDs could threaten the region's economy given the increasing costs to treat the diseases.
NCDs which mainly include diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases are said to contribute to an estimated 35 million deaths per year globally.
The World Health Organization says this is about 60 % of global deaths and double the number dying from infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions combined.
In the Caribbean, NCDs are of major concern as they are mainly associated with lifestyle-related risk factors that include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, life stresses and the harmful use of alcohol.
Chairman of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, Professor Trevor Hassell believes that a policy geared towards reducing the consumption of fast foods is one way of dealing with the problem.
"One can either use the approach of banning the fast foods from coming into our countries in the Caribbean or one could use a different approach. One could accept that fast foods are a reality but through legislation encourage the development of healthy fast foods” he said.
And Professor Hassell is stressing that regional governments should also consider providing incentives for consumption of traditional healthy foods, given that a large number of persons affected by lifestyle -related diseases cannot afford to eat healthily.
"It requires our policy makers, governments of the region , because there is no point in saying to individuals that they must eat healthily if they can’t afford it….” said Professor Hassell.
The coalition which comprises representatives from several Caribbean countries including Jamaica has launched a text messaging campaign aimed at garnering support for the reduction in the risks associated with Non-communicable diseases.