Willemstad, March 2, 2026 – Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) recently raised serious concern about the deteriorating state of our community’s health, particularly the steady rise in diabetes cases and, alarmingly, the growing number of young patients. In 2025 alone, nine children in Curaçao were newly diagnosed with diabetes, while twelve others are currently receiving treatment for obesity and are identified as pre-diabetic. These numbers reflect more than statistics, they signal an urgent public health challenge that demands collective action.
The broader impact across the island is equally concerning. One in every five adults is currently living with diabetes. The disease carries serious long-term consequences, including heart disease, kidney failure, and nerve damage, amputations, and vision loss. The increasing prevalence among younger age groups underscores that this is no longer a future problem it is a present reality affecting families daily.
Beyond the impact on community health, the growing burden of diabetes is placing significant pressure on our healthcare system. CMC already operates within limited resources while managing rising demand for chronic care, complications, and acute admissions related to diabetes. The hospital is currently focusing all available capacity on handling today’s demand. However, if this trend continues, the healthcare system will not be able to absorb future growth. Waiting lists and waiting times, which require continuous effort to control, risk increasing once again. Simply put, it costs far less to invest in building a healthier community than to continually expand infrastructure to treat a growing sick population.
Recognizing that no single institution can stop this growth alone, CMC and the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN) are raising awareness about prevention and healthy living. Meaningful change will require the involvement of the entire community from families, schools, employers, healthcare providers, policymakers, to civil society.
Corporate partners have also been approached to actively support this effort by amplifying the message within their organizations and extending outreach into the wider community where they see opportunity and influence. Employers play a critical role in shaping daily habits, workplace wellness, and family awareness. By engaging business leaders, CMC wants to create a ripple effect that extends beyond hospital walls and into homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
While diabetes affects all age groups, this month’s the efforts will specifically focus on the younger generation. Prevention does not begin in adulthood it begins early in life, even before birth. Healthy choices before and during pregnancy significantly influence a child’s long-term risk. Proper maternal nutrition, maintaining a healthy weight, good prenatal care, and fostering active lifestyles from childhood create the foundation for a healthier future. Even small, consistent habits such as a daily 30-minute walk can make a meaningful difference. This year CMC has increased its offering free “Sperando Bida” sessions to once every two months for expecting parents, and in August will start offering free nutrition sessions for the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life.
Reversing the current trend will take time, persistence, and unity. This campaign marks the beginning of a sustained, community-wide effort to protect the health of our children and secure the future of Curaçao. By standing together healthcare institutions, government, businesses, schools, and families can reduce pressure on our healthcare system, protect future generations, and build a stronger, healthier island for years to come.
