Greater Georgetown, Guyana – For the first time in its 35 year history, the Caribbean Community will come together on September 13, 2008 to mobilize its citizens – young and old – to engage in activities that will promote and sustain healthy lifestyles, in what will be the initial observance of Caribbean Wellness Day.
The observance of Caribbean Wellness Day was one of the decisions taken when the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government, deeply concerned about the physical, economic and social burdens caused by lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, obesity and cancer, met in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on 15 September 2007 to design a plan of action to stop the epidemic of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
To be observed annually on the second Saturday in September, Caribbean Wellness Day will showcase national and community level activities to promote healthy living and encourage residents to develop good health practices. Among the activities proposed for the day are the introduction of vehicle-free streets and smoke-free environments to provide opportunities and safe spaces for physical activity and healthy eating, free from exhaust emissions tobacco smoke and other pollutants.
Regional and national organisers hope to launch a campaign of regular physical activities for popular participation to promote healthy living for prevention and control of NCDs. The main focus of the campaign will be on a small number of targets – eating healthy foods, regular exercise, checking and controlling blood pressure, quit smoking – to be achieved through constant gentle practice rather than drastic unsustainable activity.
These proposals arose out of two consecutive meetings in Port-of-Spain in early May to assess the state of readiness of each country to meet the targets set out in the Port of Spain Declaration on NCDs. Participants in a workshop on promoting physical activity, organized by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the CARICOM Secretariat, assessed the level of planning for physical activities in each country of the Region and recommended steps to be taken. The second meeting, organized with the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), saw the regional Private Sector committing to healthy workplace practices to benefit workers and entrepreneurs alike.
Plans for regional activities on Caribbean Wellness Day also include a statement from CARICOM and the launch of the CAIC competition for Health Promoting Workplaces, and Physically Active Workers in support of Workplace Wellness.
Newspaper supplements across the Region will help to raise awareness of physical activity, healthy eating, avoiding tobacco, and blood pressure and weight checks.
Planning for local activities will be carried out in each country by a broad based steering committee. A prominent role will be played by health centered non-governmental organizations, major faith-based organizations, sports clubs, private sector companies marketing healthy products, and government ministries with responsibility for Sports, Education, Social Development and Community Development, depending on local capacity.
