While individuals are being encouraged to enjoy the merriment of the Christmas season, they are also being urged to eat and drink responsibly.
Director of Clinical and Diagnostic Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital The Most Honourable Dr Corey Forde yesterday reminded Barbadians that maintaining good health was their responsibility.
“Although it is the season of eating, drinking and having fun, do things responsibly, [because] healthcare is not something that is for the doctor to do for you.
“It is something for you to do for yourself and your own well being,” he said.
Forde was speaking during Live Well Clinic’s prize-giving ceremony for its 10 000 Step, 90-Day Challenge at Pelican Island in the City.
As the country continues to be heavily burdened by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, he also stressed that people needed to stay up-to-date with their screenings.
“I want to encourage all Barbadians to participate in health screenings, mammographies and screenings for prostate cancer and colon cancer.
“If we were a healthy population we would be a more productive population.
If we are a more productive population then we’d see us progress as a country,” he added.
Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Export Barbados Mark Hill, Founder of Seaside Aquatics Terrence Haynes, founder of Let’s Unpack it Dr David Johnson and CEO of LiveWell Clinics Dr Emma Dash spoke during the ceremony.
Humphrey underscored the importance of exercising and taking good care of your health from a young age.
“We have to try harder with our older population to get them to work out and eat properly. There are a number of people who are suffering from illnesses that are not necessarily as a result of being old. In other words, if you take better care of your body then perhaps you wouldn’t have these illnesses. A lot of diabetes cases are because of lifestyle choices, a lot of our cases of blindness are unnecessary and are because of lifestyle choices.
Once you become disabled in that way, your capacity to become empowered, changes,” Humphrey said.
Johnson also said physical health was linked to mental health.
“The simple act of moving has tremendous benefits, not only in preventing NCDs but also in improving our mental wellbeing and holistic wellbeing.
“If we hope to wrestle NCDs to the ground and claim our right to health and wellness and build a more resilient Barbados, it requires us to step up and take personal responsibility, set ambitious targets and take decisive action to achieve those targets,” Johnson said.
As part of the challenge which began in August, Dash said participants received free blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI and other checks at the programme’s start.
“We showed them how to track their steps and they returned in 30 days, then 90 to get those checks again. We worked closely with everyone. We had amazing results; the blood pressure was coming down and people lost up to 30 pounds in 90 days,” Dash said.
Out of the 160 participants who registered, 80 completed the programme.
She said their clinic was set up to help ease the burden on the healthcare system by offering affordable private care.
“We want to reduce the burden on our public health care system by providing this low-cost healthcare. As long as you give people information they can understand, they are willing to change,” she said.
Patient Joseph Marshall said he was grateful for the service Dash provided. He said he was able to reduce his blood pressure.
The participants who completed the programme, received prizes including televisions, laptops and Kadooment costumes. (TG)
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