The Crisis We Looked Away From

The Crisis We Looked Away From

24 October 2025

While the geopolitical storm gathers strength and Curaçao faces another round of political turbulence, a quieter but equally destructive crisis unfolds every day: our health crisis. It’s not just about the rising costs of hospital care and medication, or about public health funds drying up. The deeper problem lies in the neglect of prevention—the lack of serious attention to lifestyle, diet, and especially obesity.

How many people on Curaçao live with overweight or obesity? The data is limited, but the picture is alarming. A study found that roughly 27 percent of adults are obese, with rates significantly higher among women. Among young people, more than a quarter describe themselves as overweight. These figures mirror a broader regional trend across the Americas, where nearly two-thirds of adults are either overweight or obese.

And yet, no one seems to talk about it. There is little public education, almost no visible effort to encourage a healthier lifestyle, and no sense of urgency. While the grass grows, the horse dies. The silence is striking, especially given how preventable much of this crisis is.

Add to this the ageing of our population. Nearly a quarter of Curaçao’s residents are now 65 or older, and that share continues to rise. Fewer young people are entering the workforce, while more older citizens require medical attention, long-term care, and pension support. The health system is strained, labor shortages are deepening, and public finances are groaning under the weight.

This is not a distant concern. The combination of an unhealthy and rapidly ageing population will have far-reaching effects — on productivity, healthcare spending, and social stability. We talk endlessly about governance reform, political crises, and economic growth, but rarely about the human foundation that sustains them all: health.

It is time to confront this neglected crisis. A healthier population is not just a matter of individual choice; it is a national necessity. Without a clear, collective response, Curaçao’s silent health crisis will become the most devastating of all — the crisis we saw coming and chose to ignore.

Miguel Goede