11/09/2023

Health expo at Dennery Hospital

By Julita Peter, Ministry of the Public Service

Staff of the Dennery Hospital and the Bureau of Health Education engaged clients in the promotion of healthy lifestyle practices in observance of Caribbean Wellness Day. Caribbean Wellness Day is observed annually on Sep. 9. The theme for this year is, “Power Through Collective Action”.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs has been hosting several activities throughout the month of August and early September as a lead up to the Sep. 9 observance. The latest activity was held at the Dennery Hospital on Sep. 6 where clients were encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle practices through physical activity and healthy eating.

Merlyn Jn. Charles, Field Nutrition Officer for regions three and four summarized the event.

“The aim is to try to demonstrate to our clients what a healthy breakfast looks like. We included food items with high fiber, protein, antioxidants, carbohydrates, and it was portioned. This was done so that they are able to visualize and gain an idea of what a healthy breakfast should look like, and the portion sizes contained.

Caribbean Wellness Day was conceptualized by the Heads of Government of CARICOM as a regional response to the threat posed by non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. Member states have actively sought to make their populations aware of the threat of NCDs to their health and wellbeing and to the development gains of their societies. Everyone is encouraged to engage in healthy lifestyle practices like keeping physically active, healthy eating, reducing consumption of alcohol to the recommended safe quantities, getting annual health checks, improving personal relationships with family and friends, and taking care of his/her mental health, among other actions.

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