THE BANNING OF all tobacco and alcohol advertising is one of the considerations following a regional forum on non-communicable diseases.
At a media conference on Monday following the two day forum at Hilton Resort Barbados, the Minister of Health and the Environment in Antigua and Barbuda, Molywn Joseph said it was time for such tough decisions to be made.
“This meeting has identified a very important piece of action missing – the political will to drive this process. Some hard decisions will have to be made, such as banning of all forms of tobacco advertising; replacing trans-fats with polyunsaturated fats; restricting or banning alcohol advertising; implementing public awareness programmes on diet and physical activity . . . these are the actions that have been agreed to,” he said.
Barbados’ chief medical officer Dr Joy St John said this was a consideration for Barbados as well as focussing on obesity in children; the effects of salt, sugar and trans fat on the Barbadian diet. (CA)
