Life expectancy rate up by almost 10 years – Health Minister
October 28, 2011 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News
The quality of life in Guyana has noticeablely improved leading to an increase in the life expectancy rate by almost 10 years in the last decade. This development came at a time when, according to Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, “the country was again flirting with a life expectancy rate which was dropping below 60 years as we emerged into the 1990s.” He confidently asserted that today Guyana has a life expectancy rate of close to 71 years.
The Minister outlined that the life expectancy had risen from 40 in the 1960s to 61 by 1970 and that remained the same by 1990. However, sustained improvement in the health sector has now allowed for further improvement.
“The life expectancy of a country is usually an indication of a country’s economic and social progress. Even though we were among the Caribbean countries with the highest life expectancy in 1964, we were at the bottom of the life expectancy ranking by 1990, lagging between 10 and 14 years behind other Caribbean countries, outside of Haiti.’
But today, Guyana is proudly catching up with the rest of the Caribbean and we have a life expectancy similar to many of the CARICOM countries with a gap of only between two and five years compared to the highest ranking countries.”
And the increase in the life expectancy rate is no mere coincidence, as according to the Minister, the health workers are improving in their competency level and because more health workers have been placed around the country allowing for equitable health service.
“We have made gains when it comes to our health, there is no doubt about that. We have almost beaten infectious diseases because we have better health systems and we have more medicines so our people are living longer.”
However, the evident gains that have been made could be threatened unless immediate measures are taken to ensure that people are able to live disable-free lives.
“It is not just how long we live but it is how long we live productive, disable-free lives,” he asserted.
The Minister alluded to the fact that chronic diseases in every country of the world are adding disability-laden lives to people. He highlighted that not only are people losing their sight but they are also losing their limbs.
“If we take action now we can avert those disabilities and early death. The truth of the matter is that too many people die prematurely…” he opined.
Recognizing chronic diseases as a global public health problem which is a major catalyst for poverty, the Minister noted that sustained efforts must be made to ensure that the challenge is arrested. He made reference to the Ministry’s ‘Me to You, Reach One, Save One’ programme which speaks to spreading the word about the importance of healthy living.
“I believe that if we all get together we can reach virtually every family in Guyana with awareness messages. You must tell your friends; we would like people to know their BMI, know your sugar level, know your blood pressure measurement at all times…” the Minister said.
And in order to help foster this process which was recently endorsed at the level of the United Nations, the Ministry of Health has been introducing its Workplace Wellness Programme which is expected to extend the level of awareness to families, and by extension, foster the life expectancy rate.
October 28, 2011 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News
The quality of life in Guyana has noticeablely improved leading to an increase in the life expectancy rate by almost 10 years in the last decade. This development came at a time when, according to Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, “the country was again flirting with a life expectancy rate which was dropping below 60 years as we emerged into the 1990s.” He confidently asserted that today Guyana has a life expectancy rate of close to 71 years.
The Minister outlined that the life expectancy had risen from 40 in the 1960s to 61 by 1970 and that remained the same by 1990. However, sustained improvement in the health sector has now allowed for further improvement.
“The life expectancy of a country is usually an indication of a country’s economic and social progress. Even though we were among the Caribbean countries with the highest life expectancy in 1964, we were at the bottom of the life expectancy ranking by 1990, lagging between 10 and 14 years behind other Caribbean countries, outside of Haiti.’
But today, Guyana is proudly catching up with the rest of the Caribbean and we have a life expectancy similar to many of the CARICOM countries with a gap of only between two and five years compared to the highest ranking countries.”
And the increase in the life expectancy rate is no mere coincidence, as according to the Minister, the health workers are improving in their competency level and because more health workers have been placed around the country allowing for equitable health service.
“We have made gains when it comes to our health, there is no doubt about that. We have almost beaten infectious diseases because we have better health systems and we have more medicines so our people are living longer.”
However, the evident gains that have been made could be threatened unless immediate measures are taken to ensure that people are able to live disable-free lives.
“It is not just how long we live but it is how long we live productive, disable-free lives,” he asserted.
The Minister alluded to the fact that chronic diseases in every country of the world are adding disability-laden lives to people. He highlighted that not only are people losing their sight but they are also losing their limbs.
“If we take action now we can avert those disabilities and early death. The truth of the matter is that too many people die prematurely…” he opined.
Recognizing chronic diseases as a global public health problem which is a major catalyst for poverty, the Minister noted that sustained efforts must be made to ensure that the challenge is arrested. He made reference to the Ministry’s ‘Me to You, Reach One, Save One’ programme which speaks to spreading the word about the importance of healthy living.
“I believe that if we all get together we can reach virtually every family in Guyana with awareness messages. You must tell your friends; we would like people to know their BMI, know your sugar level, know your blood pressure measurement at all times…” the Minister said.
And in order to help foster this process which was recently endorsed at the level of the United Nations, the Ministry of Health has been introducing its Workplace Wellness Programme which is expected to extend the level of awareness to families, and by extension, foster the life expectancy rate.
