The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) is urging workplaces and the public to join efforts to tackle Saint Lucia’s rising cases of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory illnesses. These conditions are collectively known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
This call to action comes as the NIC gets ready for Sneaker Day on June 24. Sneaker Day is one of several efforts to encourage healthier living and reduce the long-term effects of NCDs in Saint Lucia. More information about Sneaker Day and other activities is provided below.
Rising illnesses reflected in sickness benefit claims
“NCDs have been driving a sustained and alarming rise in sickness benefit claims,” said Macnaughton Mc Lean, programmes manager for NCD Mitigation and General Wellness at the NIC, during the corporation’s Sneaker Day launch this week.
NCDs have been estimated to account for 82% of deaths in Saint Lucia, according to local health officials.
According to Mc Lean, a rise in NCD cases is also reflected in the growing number of sickness benefit claims processed by the NIC, which increased from 11,996 in 2013 and 2014 to 25,594 in 2021 and 2022.
“Of course, 2021, 2022 also reflect pandemic-related claims. However, that steady increase predated Covid,” he explained.
The financial impact has also grown alongside the increase in claims.
Mc Lean noted that the cost of funding sickness benefits rose from $7.4 million to $15.1 million over the same period. If the trend continues, the NIC projects that by 2030 it could be processing close to 59,000 sickness benefit claims annually at a cost nearing $31 million.
Awareness campaigns promoting healthier habits
In response, the NIC says it has adopted a more holistic approach to wellness by addressing everyday habits related to physical activity, nutrition and public awareness.
One of its flagship activities is the annual Sneaker Day initiative, during which professionals across Saint Lucia are encouraged to wear sneakers to work and in daily activities.
The NIC says Sneaker Day is a simple, visible way to remind people to reflect on their daily habits, especially how much time they spend sitting. At the launch, organisers also suggested practical changes at work, such as holding walking meetings, parking farther away, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator when possible.
The NIC has also partnered with the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association, particularly its national culinary team, for the Healthy Food Fair initiative. The collaboration, which began last year, focuses on sharing practical nutrition advice and highlighting healthier local food options that people can incorporate into their everyday diets.
The campaign will also reach the island’s west coast with Summit in Sneakers, a joint effort by the Soufriere Regional Foundation and the NIC. On June 28, teams from all over Saint Lucia will climb the Gros Piton Nature Trail in sneakers.
Sneaker Day and its related activities form part of the NIC’s broader 2023-2028 work plan, which also includes school programmes and community-based initiatives to fight NCDs. The efforts are also being carried out alongside the Ministry of Health’s Saint Lucia Moves campaign, part of a wider regional push encouraging healthier lifestyles across the Caribbean.
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