United effort on sugary drinks

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Dr Christopher Tufton and the Ministry of Health (MOH) deserve high commendations for the campaign to reduce the country's chronic rate of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, through dietary and lifestyle changes. But Professor Errol Morrison, noted diabetes expert and founding president of the Jamaica Diabetic Association, has seemingly thrown a spanner in the works of the MOH by criticising the messaging of the campaign concerning the consumption of sugary drinks in schools.

When I analysed the comments of the goodly professor in light of the Government's campaign, I realised that essentially there is no conflict.

With the growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases, it is imperative that all stakeholders speak with one clear voice. The onus is on Dr Tufton to urgently convene a closed-door meeting with Prof Morrison and the Diabetes Association to find common ground.

Orville Plummer