Too many Guyanese obese, hypertensive
An estimated 6,000 to 12,000 persons in Guyana need lipid-lowering medicines and treatment for this adds up to between $500M to $1B per year, a staggering amount that the Ministry of Health says is unsustainable.

To this end, the Ministry of Health is seeking to promote life-style changes among the Guyanese people.

Lipids, also referred to as fats, includes cholesterol.

According to the Ministry, this increase in medicine and commodity budget, which is already above $1B for diabetes and hypertension, cannot be maintained.

Because of the enormous cost of meeting the need of all persons who require lipid–lowering medicines, it is estimated that the health sector will only be in a position to provide about one-third of what is needed next year.

Besides aggressive nutritional intervention and lifestyles changes to address lack of physical activity, these persons are treated with lipid-lowering drugs at the cost of about $75M per year.

According to the Health Ministry, this would increase the budget for lipid-lowering medicines from $75M to about $150M in 2010.

Also, by 2012, this amount is likely to increase to between $400M and $500M per year.

The lipid-lowering medicines represent only one of 37 medicines that are used in different ways to treat persons living with diabetes and hypertension and their complications.

Presently, about 1,000 of these persons are treated for lipid abnormality, particularly high cholesterol, in the public health sector.

Diabetes and Hypertension amount for between 13 and 15 per cent of the total health sector budget.

Statistics released from the Ministry indicate that of the 60,000 plus persons who are living with diabetes and hypertension in Guyana, about 55 per cent are overweight or obese.

About 20 per cent of the same group has abnormal lipid profile, including high cholesterol.

The Health Ministry’s contends that these problems, obesity and high cholesterol, are the results of poor life-style choices.

The Ministry of Health has outlined life-style changes to control these costs, including improved nutrition and diet, more physical activities, and abstinence in tobacco use.

In terms of nutrition and diet, the Ministry of Health is promoting greater use of vegetables and fruits in the everyday diet of the Guyanese population.

In addition, the Health Ministry will be undertaking a robust campaign to limit salt intake.

More than 60 per cent of the population presently has an inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables and over 50 per cent use an excess of salt in their diet.

With regard to physical activity engagement, the Health Ministry acknowledged and has expressed it encouragement by the increase in physical activity in the country during 2009.

However, the Ministry notes that there is still need for greater attention to this aspect of living among Guyanese.

And so the Ministry of Health has announced that aggressive promotion of the Million Mile Challenge will be advanced, so that every Guyanese will take on the challenge of contributing to a goal of recording more than two million miles of walking, running, swimming and cycling, among other things, in 2010.