The Chief Health Officer has released his two-yearly report on the health of the Territory’s population, finding it is continuing to improve but accepting that more work needed to be done.
Dr Paul Kelly’s report recommended a change of focus from disease to wellbeing.
Commenting on the report, the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Meegan Fitzharris said a number of initiatives would be introduced that would focus on prevention and build on the significant health improvements made in recent years.
“By focusing on the overlapping key risk factors of smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, obesity, poor nutrition and physical inactivity, we will also continue to improve our health outcomes and reduce the burden of chronic disease on our health system and hospitals,” Ms Fitzharris said.
Key findings in Dr Kelly’s report include the fact that the percentage of children aged five-to-15 years consuming sugar-sweetened drinks is decreasing; that the proportion of ACT residents aged 14 and over who drank alcohol at risky levels had fallen from 22 per cent in 2013 to 14.3 per cent in 2016; and that percentage of people who have never smoked was continuing to increase.
The report also found however an increase of hospitalisations for self-harm among young people aged 10-to-24 ; the percentage of adults classified as overweight or obese remaining stable; and a steady increase in chlamydia and gonorrhoea rates.
Dr Kelly found that ACT males could expect to live 72.3 years in good health while the ACT’s females could expect to live to 74.6 years in good health.
He also found that around half of all adults in the ACT reported suffering from a long-term health condition such as arthritis, asthma or cancer.
“Cancer was the leading cause of death (144 deaths per 100,000 persons) followed by diseases of the circulatory system (126 deaths per 100,000 persons).”
Dr Kelly said the report showed Canberrans enjoyed one of the highest standards of health and wellbeing in the world and had the highest life expectancy in Australia.
“However, the report also shows that as our city increases in size and age, we need to sustain this focus to keep our community healthy,” Dr Kelly said.
The Chief Health Officer’s 66-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
