Jamaica’s health profile is transitioning. Persons are now living longer. According to the World Bank data published in 2020′, life expectancy in Jamaica is Male 70 years, female 74 years and total life expectancy is 72.0 years. At the bottom of the population pyramid, there is narrowing with the 0-14 age group declining from 41% in 1978 to 23% in 2017. In keeping with this there is a rise in the diseases associated with the older age groups. Non-communicable diseases (NCD) including Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancers are now the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. The increase in exposure to risk factors such as physical inactivity and unhealthy nutrition have led to increase in obesity in all age groups and increase risk for the NCDs.
Prevention and treatment services for non-communicable diseases and their complications are now the emerging priority of the health sector. Jamaica now must plan for dealing with a triple burden of disease: Non-communicable, Communicable and diseases brought about by climate change.