Victoria – To curb rising charges of weight problems, Seychelles is implementing a spread of measures from well being promotion campaigns in colleges, workplaces and public areas, to free screening, prognosis and therapy for folks with power ailments.
One of many major drivers of weight problems in Seychelles is the rising prevalence of sedentary existence and the extreme consumption of sugary meals and drinks. Research have proven that prime consumption of sugary drinks similar to gentle drinks and vitality drinks, together with poor dietary habits, contribute considerably to the weight problems disaster. Moreover, lack of enough bodily exercise, particularly in city areas, has exacerbated the state of affairs. This aligns with WHO’s findings on how urbanization and way of life adjustments contribute to rising weight problems ranges in island states.
These developments are the principle causes of weight problems in Seychelles. Virtually three-quarters of girls and greater than 50% of males reported inadequate bodily exercise measured towards World Well being Group (WHO) tips for adults of at the very least 150 minutes of bodily exercise per week.
In adults, WHO defines weight problems as a physique mass index (BMI) of 30 or extra. Knowledge present that weight problems in Seychelles has risen sharply within the final two or so a long time, from 13% amongst girls and 4% amongst males in 2000 to 49% and 27% in 2023, respectively.
These efforts intention to reverse the well being dangers related to weight problems, increased BMI is strongly related to hypertension and excessive ranges of blood glucose, which contribute to power ailments similar to cardiovascular ailments and diabetes. In Seychelles, 42% of girls and 38% of males aged 18‒74 have hypertension and the prevalence of diabetes amongst older adults aged 55‒74 is over 30%. Power ailments are the main reason behind loss of life in Seychelles, accounting for 53% of all deaths, and of those, cardiovascular ailments are liable for 58%.
Below the SeyPen programme, tailored from WHO’s Package deal of Important Noncommunicable (PEN) Illness Interventions for Major Well being Care, the federal government is implementing screening and therapy measures in all 15 well being services within the nation. Every facility has a devoted group of educated well being professionals who display and refer sufferers who’re overweight or are vulnerable to diabetes and hypertension to the required specialist.
“Folks can do lots to forestall and decide to a wholesome way of life, so folks should take duty for his or her well being,” says Jourdanne Letourdie, a nursing officer at Anse Aux Pins clinic, positioned within the east area of Mahe, Seychelles’ foremost island. “Power ailments are costing the nation some huge cash. If we are able to work collectively, it doesn’t value us a lot.”
In 2023 WHO convened southern African international locations with excessive charges of weight problems in Johannesburg, South Africa, to spearhead nationwide weight problems response acceleration roadmaps. Following this assembly, Peggy Vidot, Minister of Well being in Seychelles, carried out high-level advocacy for weight problems to be tackled as a nationwide downside requiring coordination on the highest stage. Because of this, a multisectoral steering committee was fashioned, chaired by President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan. In October of that 12 months, he launched the ‘Cease Weight problems’ marketing campaign and multisectoral weight problems discount plan. Ministries, departments and companies are implementing numerous initiatives below the plan.
The ‘Eat in your well being’ marketing campaign was launched in final quarter of 2023 by the Diet Unit of the nation’s Well being Care Company. The unit produced a collection of brief well being promotion movies specializing in dietary content material and well being advantages of varied meals, in addition to easy meal concepts utilizing wholesome and reasonably priced components. The movies have been broadcasted on the principle tv channel, Seychelles Broadcasting Company.
The Office Wellbeing Programme has efficiently focused greater than 20 workplaces from each the private and non-private sectors since its initiation. The programme educates workers on tips on how to train, monitor and management their diets, and tips on how to steadiness work and way of life. It additionally conducts common screening of frequent threat components for power ailments, similar to blood stress, physique mass index and blood glucose.
The Ministry of Schooling has additionally rolled out new college programmes to show youngsters the significance of bodily exercise and correct vitamin. Common sports activities occasions and health competitions at the moment are a part of the college calendar, encouraging scholar participation and household involvement. All state colleges present free breakfast and lunch to college students, selling wholesome consuming from an early age. To additional assist this, unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks are banned in class tuck outlets, in keeping with the 2008 Nationwide College Diet Coverage and the 2018 tuck store tips. Sporting services, playgrounds and improved pedestrian walkways have additionally paved the way in which for extra entry to bodily exercise.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports activities, and Household organizes open-air health classes and vitamin training workshops to have interaction the general public. These initiatives intention to advertise collective possession of the battle towards weight problems.
“We’d like stakeholders in the private and non-private sector, together with non-governmental organizations and neighborhood teams, to work along with the Ministry of Well being in a collaborative effort to handle weight problems and obese at nationwide stage,” says Stephanie Desnousse, principal nutritionist on the Ministry of Well being. “Weight problems shouldn’t be solely an issue for the Ministry of Well being, but in addition a nationwide concern.”