Turning the tide on NCDs and mental health

ACROSS JAMAICA and the Caribbean, a crisis is eroding our health, economies, and dreams for the future. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses, in addition to mental health conditions are taking a heavy toll on health and wellbeing.

These conditions claim nearly 80 per cent of lives in some Caribbean nations, often striking people in the prime of their years, leaving families, communities, and societies to bear the weight of loss and hardship.

In Jamaica alone, NCDs could cost over US$18 billion in lost productivity and healthcare spending between 2015 and 2030; approximately US$6,306 per person, a figure rivalling the nation’s entire annual GDP. Cardiovascular disease accounts for 20.8 per cent of this economic loss, followed by cancer (13.7 per cent) and diabetes (13.5 per cent).

NCDs deepen poverty, strain national budgets, and burden already stretched health systems. Furthermore, mental health conditions add to this health crisis. Depression and anxiety are among the leading causes of disability, yet access to care remains scarce, especially in underserved communities where stigma and lack of investment silence those in need.

LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH

This challenge is not Jamaica’s alone. Across the Americas, NCDs are the leading cause of death, claiming six million lives each year. While premature deaths have slightly declined, only five countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Chile, and Grenada are on track to meet global NCD targets by 2025. Jamaica and many Caribbean neighbours are at risk of not achieving the 2030 goal of reducing premature NCD mortality by one-third.

Yet, hope is alive, and progress is real. Jamaica is stepping up with bold actions: strengthening tobacco control laws, initiating the reduction of sodium and trans fats in foods, promoting physical activity, expanding cervical cancer screening, and improving hypertension and diabetes care in primary health centres. Mental health is also gaining momentum, with advances toward an updated national policy, community outreach, and efforts to break the stigma that keeps too many suffering in the shadows.

The US$100 million Health System Strengthening Project, backed by the Inter-American Development Bank, is transforming 14 health facilities into integrated care hubs, prioritising person-centred NCD management. Additionally, an anticipated new human resources policy will support closing gaps in primary care, ensuring more Jamaicans get the help they need.

The Pan American Health Organization stands with Jamaica and the Caribbean, supporting NCD primary care management models, mental health investment plans, and stronger surveillance systems. These efforts are building and expanding accessible health services across the region. But we must move faster.

This September, the Fourth High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Promotion of Mental Health and Wellbeing (HLM4) in New York, presents a critical opportunity to shape a bold new political declaration and accelerate progress toward 2030 and beyond.

COLLECTIVE ACTION

It also offers a moment to reaffirm the commitments of Jamaica and the Caribbean, first set out in the groundbreaking 2007 Port of Spain Declaration, which united the region in the fight against NCDs. Jamaica and its neighbours once again have the chance to lead, renewing their commitment to collective action.

To turn the tide, countries must:

• Recommit to universal health coverage, making NCDs and mental health care a priority;

• Increase investment in NCD and mental health promotion, prevention, treatment, and surveillance;

• Enact bold policies including taxing tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks; implementing clear front-of-package nutrition labels; and promoting active lifestyles

• Strengthen primary health care as the first line of defence against NCDs and mental health conditions by expanding HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and better access to diagnostics and treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory diseases;

• Fight stigma and expand access to quality community-based mental health services, ensuring no one is left behind.

NCDs and mental health challenges are not just health issues; they are also barriers to achieving prosperity and equity. With strong leadership, resources, and collaboration, Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean can change course. The science is clear, the solutions are within reach, and the time to act is now.

Let us seize this moment at the UNGA meeting to place health at the heart of our region’s future, building vibrant, thriving communities where every Caribbean citizen can live a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.

SOURCE: Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director, Pan American Health Organization