(MENAFN- Jordan Times) AMMAN - The Ministry of health on Monday launched campaign promoting healthy lifestyle choices, exercise and smoking cessation, titled“Your life is your call, think about your choices”.The campaign was launched with the support of the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
During the launch ceremony, Minister of Health Feras Al Hawari said that adopting a healthy lifestyle is“the best investment in the future health of individuals and society”.
The minister termed healthy lifestyle choices“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 placed economic burdens on individuals, societies and countries.”
Over 75 per cent of deaths in Jordan are caused by noncommunicable diseases, the minister said, adding that there are about 9,000 cases of cancer in the Kingdom.
A national survey, titled the“National Progressive Survey of Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases for 2019”, showed that a quarter of those between the ages of 40 and 69 are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. About 8 per cent of those over 18 have diabetes, and 21 per cent of individuals between the ages of 45 and 69 also suffer from the illness. About 22 per cent in the same age group suffer from high blood pressure, with about half of that figure not receiving any treatment.
Hawari listed several reasons for the high rates of disease, including smoking (41 per cent of Jordanians smoke), electronic cigarettes and vaping (9 per cent of smokers), and obesity (61 per cent of Jordanians).
The poll also revealed that the vast majority of people consume fewer portions of fruits and vegetables than the quantity recommended by the World Health Organization. The survey also revealed that around a quarter of the population does not meet the organisation's physical activity recommendations.
Hawari stressed that the ministry is working with its partners to address noncommunicable diseases and achieve societal behavioural changes towards healthy lifestyles through awareness and educational campaigns in health centres and schools. The ministry is also working to activate community committees to enhance community reach to households.
Hawari lauded the role of the supporting partners from the European Union and the AECID for their contribution to the 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.
EU 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 endeavour 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.