Caribbean Wellness Day is being celebrated this Saturday, September 12, and the Health Ministry's Collective Prevention Services (CPS), White Yellow Cross Foundation and Windward Islands Physical Therapy Association (WIPTA) have planned several activities for the occasion. The event is taking place at White Yellow Cross in St. John's Estate.
St. Maarten has themed this year's event: "Age Active... U 2 Can Move!" Caribbean Wellness Day is geared toward increasing awareness and promoting activities to address the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which continue to severely impact the health, economy and development of the region.
Caribbean Community Caricom countries recognized the threat posed by NCDs in The Declaration of Port of Spain which outlined key strategies to prevent, control and reduce NCDs through the life course. This includes the need to increase physical activity in the population, especially in the workplace.
The Caribbean region has one of the highest rates of obesity in children and adults in the world. This is due to many factors; poor diets coupled with lack of physical activity, meaning that many spend several hours per day watching TV and playing video games. Also there is the huge marketing of foods that are high in sugar, fats and salt!
Caribbean Wellness Day takes place at White Yellow Cross in St. John's Estate. A registration form can be found in the Government Information Page of this newspaper until Thursday. Drop off your completed form at one of the following locations: the Post Office, Box 1018 / Department of Collective Prevention Services (CPS), Vineyard Office Complex / the Baby Clinic (behind Guardian Group Fatum Insurances) / St. Martin's Home Front Desk, St. John's Estate Rd. #6.
