George Town MLA Alfonso Wright has sought to clarify his recent suggestion that Government fund gastric bypass surgery for morbidly obese indigents.
Mr. Wright emphasised he was only suggesting that Government fund the surgery as a last resort, in potentially life threatening situations.
Assistance for the procedure should only be available for those that could not afford it and should be offered in the form of a loan, he said.
Mr. Wright said he had not spoken further with any Government ministers about the suggestion and does not know if they support the idea.
He said the suggestion had drawn an emotive response. But, by some of the feedback he has received, he thinks many people misunderstood his original statement.
‘I have received letters from people thinking I was advocating this for the whole public service – that’s insane.
‘No one is suggesting that we fund cosmetic surgery and no one is suggesting that this is an alternative to a good diet and regular exercise.
‘What I was suggesting is that this procedure may have a role when someone has got to the point where they can no longer help themselves.
‘I’m really disappointed that some people have turned this into a negative thing and are making negative remarks about people that are obese.
‘My duty is to enhance the life of people in my community. That includes people that are obese. They may be in the minority, but they are equally deserving of my time and energy.’
Mr. Wright said there would only be a handful of people in Cayman in such a condition who could not afford to pay for the procedure themselves.
The suggestion only came to mind on the Legislative Assembly floor on 28 May, he explained, after he was reminded of a community member, who died young, after losing her battle with obesity.
Mr. Wright said the woman was so large she could not exercise.
‘It was a horrible tragedy. They had to dig a bigger hole in the ground and make a bigger coffin; she was in dire need of help.
He said the public had to understand that obesity is a recognised disease and sometimes genetics contribute to obesity problems.
Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass the small intestine.
Reducing the size of the stomach makes patients feel full quicker, reducing the amount of food they eat.
Bypassing part of the intestine also promotes weight loss as it results in fewer calories being absorbed.
Studies have found that gastric bypass surgery typically reduces a patient’s excess body weight by 65 per cent to 80 per cent. However the procedure can give rise to unwanted side effects including stomach ulcers and the development of nutritional deficiencies.
Someone that is supporting Mr. Wright’s suggestion is West Bay resident, Sophia Forbes. She lost 203 pounds after having the mini gastric bypass procedure done in 2003. The operation changed her life and she is now mentoring others in Cayman that are considering getting the procedure done.
The decision to have the procedure should only be considered when every other option has been tried and failed, she said.
Though she had always been overweight, it was not until a spinal injury left her wheelchair bound and doubtful of living to see her 40th birthday, that Ms Forbes decided to have the operation.
‘I had to face the reality of my failure. I had yo-yo dieted, tried every exercise programme out there, undergone shock therapy and hypnosis and I was still dangerously overweight.
‘I had to accept that I was an addict and that food was my drug of choice,’ she said.
‘My life was completely out of control and I made the decision to have gastric bypass surgery.’
Four years later, she says the world is now a very different place for her.
‘Doors that were closed to me are now open and the world is a kinder, gentler, place.’
Ms Forbes thanked Mr. Wright for bringing the issue up and opening the door for discussion.
‘I was fortunate to be able to finance the procedure for myself, but there are so many people in our community who do not have the means to pay for this surgery and desperately need our Government’s help.
‘I am aware that our government is faced with many important and coffer draining issues but what could be more important than the health and wellbeing of our people?’
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