UP TO 2004, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for over 60 per cent of all deaths in Trinidad and Tobago, and has been the leading cause of death in this county for the last 20 years, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
According to the Ministry of Health’s 2015 Hospital Utilisation Reports, that year, 25 per cent of deaths were due to heart disease, 14 per cent to diabetes, 13 per cent to cancer and ten per cent to cerebrovascular disease (conditions that affect blood flow to the brain).
And, according to the International Diabetes Foundation, in 2021 there was a 14.8 per cent prevalence of diabetes in adults in TT.
With these startling statistics in mind, the Ministry of Health has been taking steps to educate the public, lower the risk of people contracting NCDs by promoting a healthy lifestyle, provide quality care for the management of NCDs and their risk factors, and collect data to better inform policies.
Dr Marla Clapperton, director of the ministry's Non-Communicable Diseases Unit, spoke to Newsday earlier this month about some of the programmes implemented to help save lives.
TTMoves is the ministry’s main educational tool and its public advice were to drink more water, move more, eat more fruits and vegetables daily and, recently added – know your health numbers ie blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
Launched in 2018, the campaign hosted 5K walks/runs, provided healthy lifestyle information at health fairs and festivals as well as online, installed sporting and exercise equipment at community centres and schools, and much more.
Recently, TTMoves has been expanding to include an app which, for now, is step counter, a fitness programme on television and a programme for primary school students.
Clapperton explained Get Moving with TTMoves is a ten-minute fitness programme starting at 6.45 am on ttt. The six-week programme started on June 3 and a new routine is introduced each week.
She said it is designed to be very simple but effective and caters for all age groups, levels of fitness, as well as for those with disabilities.
TTMoves Junior was launched in April and hosted an NCD Inspector Academy during the Easter vacation. It was held in all the regional health authorities (RHAs) for children aged five to 11.
The the children learned about healthy eating, gardening, and improving and increasing their physical activity. Based on the availability and resources of the RHAs, some academies had yoga, dance and went on field trips. At the end, they graduated and received a certificate and a sticker booklet.
Positive feedback
“When they go back home they were to share what they learned, in terms of healthy lifestyle practices, with their friends, families and neighbours. And anyone caught not doing the healthy practices they have learned, the NCD inspectors could issue sticker fines to them.
“This fun activity was really built on the premises of children being agents for change. We are investing in the younger generation.”
She said the feedbac
