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Barbados To Again Observe Caribbean Wellness Day

Caribbean Wellness Day, with its annual focus on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs), will be celebrated this year on Saturday, September 12 with exercise related activities centered in the Bridgetown area.

The day was sanctioned by the CARICOM Heads of Government at the historic Chronic Disease summit of Port of Spain 2007 and was designed as a starting point for a plan of action to control the epidemic of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs) in the Caribbean.

 

Building on the successful launch of the inaugural Caribbean Wellness Day celebrations in Barbados last year, Dr. Kenneth George, Senior Medical Officer for CNCDs said that the Ministry of Health was delighted to once again observe Caribbean Wellness Day, as CNCDs are a major cause for concern in Barbados. With more than 60% of our adult population over weight and significant numbers affected by hypertension, diabetes and other chronic conditions, we are hoping that Caribbean Wellness Day will act as a catalyst to get persons focused on their health and on healthy choices. Dr. George said that he is encouraging members of the public, the Health NGO community and the members of the Bridgetown business community to join with the Ministry of Health once again in staging the event.

 

Store owners in Bridgetown are invited to play a greater role in Caribbean Wellness Day. With the event focused in the capital city, the Ministry is partnering with stores to have discounts on all health related products and on some specialty items. This is to encourage the public to buy that exercise gear, equipment or other item that would get them started on their path to wellness.

 

The events theme is again Love that Body, Move that Body and activities will be concentrated in Independence Square, Heroes Square, Broad Street, Swan Street and Jubilee Gardens. A 5k fun walk around Bridgetown is expected to get the activities started at 7am and mass participation will be encouraged.

 

Among the activities proposed for the day are the promotion of vehicle-free streets and smoke-free environments, and provision of safe spaces for physical activity and healthy eating. Broad Street will again be closed to vehicular traffic for 4 hours from 9am - 1pm.

 

The public will be able to participate in exercise sessions, sample healthy foods, have health checks done and enjoy a variety of cultural activities while taking in health information from a number of health care providers.