Opposition spokesman on health, Dr Alfred Dawes is pointing to a lack of acceptance of chronic diseases in Jamaica which transcends educational levels.
This, he said is driving up the numbers of non-communicable diseases (NCDS) in the country, leading to early deaths. The bariatric surgeon said he has “watched highly intelligent people watch breast lumps wondering if they will go away even while the cancer grows”.
He was speaking Wednesday at the media launch of a Health Restoration and Wellness Optimization Symposium at the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. The symposium that will run from February 26-March 1, is a partnership between the renown Uchee Pines Lifestyle Centre based in Alabama, USA and the Health Ministries Department of the Andrews Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA).
Director, Health Ministries, Andrews SDA, Dr Derria Cornwall said the symposium aims to teach individuals simple, effective and inexpensive ways to reverse lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, manage stress, improve sleep and much more.
Arguing that individuals often abdicate responsibility to the Government, Dawes said it will take a change in mindset, so people can begin to take responsibility for their own health. He said he has had patients who lost 140 pounds but gained 150 pounds “even while they cannot eat more than a chicken leg at a time”. He has also had patients who have struggled with their weight all their lives who suddenly, on their own, with no surgical intervention, lose 200 pounds.
