A Non-Communicable Disease (NCD), also known as a ‘chronic disease’, is a condition that has a long duration and is the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.
NCDs have emerged as the leading cause of death globally. The four main NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (including hypertension), cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases (like asthma) which account for over 80% of all NCD related deaths that occur in persons younger than 70 years old (‘premature deaths’).
The burden of these diseases is rising disproportionately among populations in lower income countries like Jamaica and other Caribbean countries. In 2017, NCDs accounted for the top 5 leading causes of death in Jamaica: stroke, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease (a type of dementia) and interpersonal violence.
The Non-Communicable Disease and Injury Prevention Unit in the Ministry of Health and Wellness joins the international and regional community in the mandate to reduce the impact of NCDs.
Jamaica’s priority NCDs includes: