By Steve A. Morrell
Life expectancy in Sri Lanka is now at 74 years and rising. However, attendant progress is marred by urbanization, smoking and alcohol consumption among men, mainly. These attendant risk factors completely nullified progress in health care achieved since 1920, says Julie McLaughlin Sector Manager, Health, Nutrition, and Population of the World Bank.
"Life expectancy for women made steady progress but such gains are not enlisted for men because of described social mores causing serious affectation ultimately resulting in Non Communicable Diseases. (NCD)", she told a press conference in Colombo last week.
Read moreThe World Bank report presented on the occasion also heightened needs to revalidate lifestyles for men, particularly those living in urban surroundings. Given relative low health spending at 4% of GDP, the trend now is that NCD care is progressively dependent on individuals spending personal funds to achieve some degree of health care.
Per capita expenditure stemming from government sources being low healthcare was strongly relegated to personal finances, placing heavy stress on families who could hardly afford increasing costs in healthcare.
Diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, asthma, as well as obesity, and uncontrolled diet properties, high blood sugar and salt consumption too contributed to rising impact of NCDs eventually burdening those with limited financial resources.
The South Asian Regional study, a document originated by The World Bank, exposed data that South Asians suffer their first heart attack six years earlier that other groups worldwide. NCDs will rise causing burden on an aging population.
The population over the age of 65 would rise from 12.1% to 24.4% over the next 30 years. Similar movement in life expectancy from middle to high income could eventually be harmful to health status of any country.
Healthy lifestyles are now imperative ; prophylactic methods that have become unavoidable if general health attainments are to be maintained.
Although apparent methods have been recognized for NCD prevention, or minimization, the stalling reasons have been smoking and drinking, according to the study.
The WB study also reveals that incidence of NCDs are spreading to the rural sector causing concern that urban lifestyles are also obtaining in that environment.
Increase in risk factors was seen since 1980 and the period there after. Tackling NCDs in Sri Lanka early, with better prevention and treatment would significantly spare poor people the crushing burden of medi-care eventually resulting in lost wages and premature death.
The World Bank study exposed health situations prevailing in most South East Asian countries with identified risks. Such risks were similar to those prevailing here.
Present at discussions were Senior Publlc Health Specialist, South Asian Region, World Bank, Dr. Michael Engelgau, Public Health Specialist, World Bank, Dr. Kumari Navaratne, and Senior Health Nutrition & Population Specialist, World Bank, Dr. Sundarajan Gopalan.
The report presented also had pointers on policy options and action prompting governments to ensure better healthcare measures are in place.
The emerging disease burdens on the aging population is expected to double in about 30 years. Death due to major causes being cance, and diabetes have risen. But on the other hand, death due to infectious diseases reduced considerably., to about 20 %.
Sunday Island
