LOCAL application (app) developers are being challenged to create an app that can help users to track calories of local foods.
The challenge was issued yesterday by Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, who was delivering remarks at the launch of the new Pharma Wellness International Inc.’s Information Technology Platform, Website and Public Programme at the Diabetes Centre in Warrens yesterday.
She said the apps that can be found on smartphones and other devices do not reflect or consider the caloric content of local foods.
“You try to track foods and for each food you have to go in and choose the type of food, but there is nothing there for breadfruit cou cou and salt fish,” she mused.
“These are things that we have to do now. We have to start looking at our local variants. Because we want to encourage people to eat healthy, eat local.”
“Technology is the way to go. It is one thing to put it out in books, but not enough people are getting it. But to find the apps that we can reach people. Those messages that you send so that they can understand our local foods. It is okay to know about cranberries and blueberries, but they also need to know about our foods. The value of those foods and what they contribute in terms of calories.”
Dr. Byer-Suckoo remarked on the many ways in which Information Technology can play a role in the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“Technology has changed our lives so much in the last 20 years. The way we socialise, the way we shop, the way we do our banking. Every aspect of our life has changed so much because of technology. Even in terms of how diabetes is managed,” she explained.
However, she noted that in spite of the technological advancements, there is still a lot of myths, misconceptions and ignorance about diabetes, with some persons remarking that they were told they have a “trace of sugar” years before, but never followed up with their doctor.
“We have to ensure that we tackle them with lifestyle intervention. Exercise, diet, but also the workplace… And we can’t now talk about diabetes without talking about childhood obesity. We have to get involved in the schools. Work and school – we cannot leave out those aspects as we try to prevent and treat diabetes and other lifestyle diseases. We have to get people where they are,” the Minister urged.
To this end, she commended the Workplace Wellness Policy and the efforts of the Pharma Wellness in the empowerment of patients.
She said patient empowerment leads to more patients reporting side-effects of medication, less wastage and allows the patient to see themselves at the centre of care being administered.
The Labour Minister commended the IT platform, which will enable persons whose workplaces may not be a part of the Wellness Programme but who will be able to reap the benefits of the programme, which has been in existence for four years.
She said while youth unemployment is a challenge, it can also be seen as an opportunity to find solutions to many threats in Barbados, including NCDs, climate change and reef degradation. Many of these ideas she says if exportable, can tackle the foreign exchange challenge facing the country. (JH)