ammonnews.net

Ammon News - A campaign to promote adopting a healthy lifestyle, working out and quitting smoking, titled "Your life is your call, think about your choices," was launched on Monday by the Ministry of Health, with the support of the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

Minister of Health Firas Hawari, who patronized the ceremony, stressed that adopting a healthy lifestyle is the best investment in the future health of individuals and society, calling it "the best way to promote health and prevent noncommunicable disease risk factors, which have become the main cause of death locally, regionally and globally, and have had economic burdens on individuals, societies and countries."

He pointed out that more than three quarters of deaths in Jordan are caused by noncommunicable diseases, adding that there are about 9,000 cases of cancer in the Kingdom.

A national survey, dubbed the "National Progressive Survey of Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases for 2019," showed that a quarter of those between the ages of (40-69) years have a risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. About 8 percent of those over eighteen have diabetes and 21 percent between the ages 45-69 years also suffer from the illness, and about 22 percent in that same age group, suffer from high blood pressure, with about half not receiving any treatment.

Hawari listed several reasons for these high percentages, including smoking (41 percent of Jordanians smoke), electronic cigarettes and vaping (9 percent of smokers), and obesity (61 percent).

The poll also revealed that the vast majority of people consume fewer portions of fruits and vegetables than the World Health Organization recommends, and that around a quarter of the population does not meet the organization's physical activity recommendations.

Hawari stressed that the ministry is working with its partners on several levels to address noncommunicable diseases and achieve the required societal behavioral change towards healthy lifestyles through awareness and educational campaigns in health centers and schools, as well as activating community committees to enhance community reach to homes and families.

He pointed out that the ministry is taking several measures to reduce smoking and beverages without proper nutrients such as energy drinks, through upping the number clinics that help smokers quit and expanding and improving nutritional counseling services in health centers. The ministry also provides early detection services for non-communicable diseases and the necessary examinations and treatments.

Hawari lauded the role of the supporting partners from the European Union and the AECID for their contribution to this campaign.

For his part, Spanish Ambassador Miguel de Lucas stressed the importance of initiatives aimed at reducing primary risk factors associated with chronic and noncommunicable diseases, which include education and awareness among specific population groups and the general public.

For her part, the European Union Ambassador to Jordan, Maria Hadjitheodosiou, said: "The European Union is committed to supporting the improvement of the health of Jordanians and Syrian refugees by strengthening the health system in Jordan. We are very proud to be part of this collective endeavor and to raise awareness to address the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases."

She stressed that the power of media can be used to inspire change, engage society and educate the wider population on healthy lifestyles.