We have a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) epidem- ic in Jamaica. The same is true for countries around the world as seven out of 10, or 41 million persons world- wide die annually from a non-communicable disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respi- ratory diseases and cancers. The most recent Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey (JHLS) reveals that one in three Jamaicans has hypertension, one in two is over- weight or obese, and one in eight has diabetes. This is telling us in no uncertain terms that we have a crisis of NCDs.
Too many Jamaicans are unaware of their condition and are engaging in behaviours likely to increase their risk of NCDs. NCDs often take years to develop and cause symptoms, therefore many persons live with an NCD and are unaware that they have one until they are diagnosed in its advanced stage. Regular health checks help to reduce the risk of developing these conditions and their complications by identifying risk factors that make persons more likely to develop major NCDs and detecting potential health problems early.