(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The observance of Caribbean Wellness Day 2009 came up for high plaudits by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers of Health at their meeting in Washington, USA on the week-end.
The Meeting of the 18th Caucus of Ministers of Health said they were “thrilled at the positive report, particularly from Trinidad and Tobago, on the second celebration of Caribbean Wellness Day,” on 12 September 2009.
In keeping with the commitment from Heads of Government in 2007 to unite to fight against chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Caribbean Wellness Day was observed under the theme, Love that Body, on the second Saturday of September for the second year across the region.
This year, more than 20 countries including two non-CARICOM countries participated in week long activities to promote healthy lifestyles. The activities which culminated on 12 September ranged from physical activities such as cycling, dancing, mass aerobics and sporting competitions to public education campaigns with simple messages which focused on no smoking, alcohol reduction, blood pressure checks and eating healthy.
Several countries have already established programmes to promote healthy lifestyles and Health Ministers are now seeking support for the institutionalisation of the current CWD organizations and for the specific activities to be carried on throughout the year.
They have urged that civil society and private sector interests be merged with existing public interests so that this alliance would be involved in year round activities culminating on Caribbean Wellness Day.
