The Tribune

BAHAMIANS must make "aggressive" changes to their behaviour and habits if they want to live productive, healthy lives, Minister of Health Dr Hubert Minnis said.

Addressing the opening session of a two-day symposium on ageing hosted by the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre to mark World Health Day, Dr Minnis said statistics indicate that populations around the world are "rapidly ageing" as people live longer.

Bahamians are part of this trend, and they must adopt healthier lifestyles to ensure their longer lives remain fulfilling, he said.

Dr Minnis said: "The number of persons aged 60 and over today has doubled in just over 30 years, and according to the World Health Organisation, two billion people will be 60 and older by 2050.

"Of those, the number of persons aged 80 will quadruple to 395 million. This worldwide trend is reflected in our commonwealth as it is estimated that within the next five years, the number of adults aged 65 and over, will be greater than the number of those under the age of five."

Dr Minnis said adopting a healthy lifestyle at an early age can help people avoid many of the ailments associated with ageing.

"These include non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, most of which are preventable or inexpensive to treat," Dr Minnis said.

"Avoidance of these diseases begins early in life with the adoption of healthy behaviours such as significant physical activity, healthy eating habits and the avoidance of excessive alcohol and tobacco.

"People who adopt these behaviours early, will have a healthier old age."

Dr Minnis said public healthcare officials - particularly those at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, the Geriatric Hospital, the Public Hospitals Authority, the Department of Public Health and the Ministry of Health - have put in place a number of programmes aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and habits.