THE CASE FOR A PREVENTATIVE APPROACH TO CHRONIC NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (CNCDS) IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

摘要

The Caribbean region has experienced an epidemiological transitionfrom communicable diseases to chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) overthe past few decades. The case of Trinidad and Tobago has been no different. Themain objective of this paper is to highlight some of the effects of this transition as wellas to increase awareness of the need to foster a preventative approach to healthcarethat fully takes this changing disease profile into account. The epidemiologicaltransition has led to a change in the scope and functions of the health system.Given that the major health-based threats to the human capital development ofTrinidad and Tobago are no longer diseases that are transferred from person toperson but are, in fact, largely brought on by lifestyle choices, healthcare systemsshould now focus on prevention in the form of marketing, awareness drives andadvertising to name a few. A significant economic burden will be imposed upon thesociety if a prevention-based approach to CNCDs is not adopted. The preventativeapproach will allow the country to mitigate some of the future health impacts thatthe population may face and Trinidad and Tobago stands to benefit greatly, viaproductivity and welfare gains, if CNCD-related issues are tackled prior to theironset rather than later on when these diseases have already taken root.