Research by the Epidemiology Research Unit at the Tropical Medicine Research Institute (TMRI) has quantified the current epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases in Jamaica, which showed that the country is rife with obesity, according to Jamaica Gleaner.
Julian Robinson, minister of state in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, in his keynote address at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Research Day 2014 launch said, “Working with the Ministry of Health, the unit has drafted a policy document for the reduction of obesity and this has been accepted by Cabinet and will be rolled out shortly,” the minister revealed.
According to the report, research in chronic diseases, pharmacology using local herbs, and nutrition and lifestyle, count among the wide variety of health-related studies done by UWI, contributing to shaping national and international health policy. Research is critical to the process of informing health policy and the UWI has provided much of the studies to impact on that area in Jamaica and the region.
Locally, the monitoring and management of patients with sickle-cell disease by the Sickle Cell Unit has led to a reduction in mortality from the disease, with the interventions being rolled out across Jamaica.
Research out of UWI has contributed not only to Jamaican society but also internationally. Through the TMRI, the institute has studied how to manage chronically malnourished children, and the work is now part of the standard protocol adopted by the World Health Organization on the management of chronic malnutrition.
Additionally, research by UWI on marijuana informed the development of Cannasol and Asthmasol, treatments for glaucoma and asthma, respectively that are available internationally said the Jamaica Gleaner.(JG)
