CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Cuba Prioritizes Prevention and Control of Chronic Illness.

CUBA, January 6th, 2011.- Cuba has increased its actions for the prevention and control of non transmittable chronic illnesses.

Eighty seven thousand people died every year from these illnesses which account for more than 80% of deaths on the Island.

Doctor Orland Landrove, head of the Department of Prevention and Control of non transmittable illnesses from the Health Ministry told the Cuban News Agency, (ACN) that the majority of the state health budget is spent on cardiovascular disease, brain clots, diabetes, bronchial asthma and other related illnesses.

These sicknesses are associated with common risk factors such as smoking, obesity, alcoholism, unhealthy diets and a sedentary lifestyle. Surveys have also shown that the excessive use of salt, sugar and saturated fats also contribute to this type serious illness.

Dr. Landrove added that a new approach is needed at primary care level to educate patients at risk about the dangers of certain foods and lifestyles.

He underlined that prevention is the best medicine and the least costly to the state, which, he assured would not cut back on its healthcare budget. However he does emphasize that the population has a duty to take care of its own health as much as possible. (Cubaminrex-RHC)