ADDRESSING the consequences of global warming will be the greatest health challenge the island has to face, according to the director of public health.
In his final annual report, Dr David Jeffs (pictured), who is retiring, sets out the four biggest tasks the island would need to tackle.
Of climate change, he says: ‘The middle-aged among us will feel the bite, our children will be savaged unless we agree to act now.’
The other three issues are obesity, funding and cancer prevention.
In his 14th report, he takes the opportunity to write frankly about escalating climate change and the impact on public health of matters such as plague, pestilence, war, famine and mass migration on a global scale such as never seen before.
Dr Jeffs said one of the major challenges facing the island was the need to accept it was now part of the global community.
‘And that we need to make our own small contribution to trying to stem global warming, or suffer the full consequences of this along with the rest of the world,’ he said.
Another challenge, he said, was ‘to ensure sufficient funding to meet the rising healthcare expectations of an affluent small jurisdiction, with an ageing population and increasing healthcare costs both on and off island.’
Since his appointment in 1994, Dr Jeffs has spoken of the need for a government and public contribution to improving health.
He said individual States departments, the business sector, the community and individuals themselves must accept the reality and risks of rising levels of obesity and embrace the ‘joined-up action’ that will be required to contain challenges in public health.
He sets out recommendations to combat those challenges.
These include walking and cycling on short journeys, not smoking and sensible alcohol consumption, reducing the intake of red meat, increasing consumption of fresh and locally-grown fruit and vegetables and exercise.
‘Improving public health is about relatively small changes on a sufficiently large scale,’ said Dr Jeffs.
He said if implemented, these recommendations could help restrain healthcare costs, prevent up to 40% of all new cancers, slow down obesity and demonstrate Guernsey was willing to make a contribution to combating the ‘catastrophic effects of global warming’.
‘Simple though these concepts may seem, it will be very difficult indeed to persuade enough people to change their lifestyles necessary to have the desired cumulative effects.’
Article posted on 3rd September, 2008 - 2.30pm
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2 Article Comments
Maybe we can start by only allowing enviro friendly vehicles to operate on the Island.
I noticed an article in the Independent absolutely slating the state of our roads. The correspondent was a visitor and basically tore the Tourist blurb apart.
Clogged up roads full of overpowered cars, raw sewage on the beaches, a sense of stress.
Far removed from the ‘happiest and most relaxed place in the world’ or whatever hyperbole is dished out in vain.
With an easily managed population we should be implementing strict laws on traffic, wastage and greed.