Caerphilly County Borough Council has revealed that life expectancy in the area is below the UK average, prompting concerns within the British Bangladeshi community, who face additional health challenges.
The council's report highlights the need to address health inequalities in the county, which has a population of around 175,000 people. It is hoped that the new economic plan will help to improve the health and wellbeing of residents.
A number of factors are believed to be contributing to the lower life expectancy in Caerphilly, including:
Poverty: Caerphilly has one of the highest rates of poverty in Wales, and poverty is a major risk factor for poor health.
Smoking: Smoking rates are also high in Caerphilly, and smoking is a major cause of preventable death.
Obesity: Obesity rates are also high in Caerphilly, and obesity is a major risk factor for a number of health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
The British Bangladeshi community in Caerphilly faces additional health challenges, such as:
Higher rates of certain cancers: Studies have shown that British Bangladeshi people are more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer, such as liver cancer and stomach cancer.
Mental health problems: British Bangladeshi people are also more likely to experience mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
Cultural barriers to accessing healthcare: Some British Bangladeshi people may face cultural barriers to accessing healthcare, such as language barriers and a lack of awareness of available services.
The council's new economic plan includes a number of measures to address these issues, such as:
Investing in early years education and childcare: This will help to give children the best possible start in life and reduce health inequalities in the long term.
Supporting businesses to create good quality jobs: This will help to reduce poverty and improve people's health and wellbeing.
Promoting healthy lifestyles: This will include initiatives to encourage people to eat healthily, take regular exercise, and stop smoking.
The council is also working with a number of partners to improve health outcomes in Caerphilly, including:
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board: The health board is responsible for providing NHS services in Caerphilly.
Caerphilly County Borough Council: The council is responsible for providing local services, such as education and social care.
Caerphilly CVS: Caerphilly CVS is a voluntary sector organisation that provides support to a range of community groups.
It is hoped that these measures will help to improve the health and wellbeing of residents in Caerphilly, including the British Bangladeshi community, and reduce the gap between life expectancy in the county and the UK average.
In addition to the above, the council is also calling on the Welsh Government to invest more money in Caerphilly to help address the health inequalities in the county.
The Welsh Government has said that it is committed to improving health outcomes in Wales and that it is working with local authorities to address the challenges.
It is hoped that by working together, the council, the health board, and the Welsh Government can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of residents in Caerphilly.
This is an ongoing story and we will continue to update it as more information becomes available.
1
2
3
4
.svg)
