Wellness Day

Caribbean countries were on Saturday engaged in various activities as the region observed Wellness Day in a bid to highlight the dangers of non-communicable diseases (NDCS). Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin la Rocque said that six years after the historic signing by regional leaders of the 2007 Port-of-Spain Declaration “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of NCDs”, Caribbean people have taken to the idea of a Caribbean Wellness Day. He said the Declaration was the outcome of the concerns of Caribbean leaders about the physical, economic and social burdens caused by lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, obesity and cancer. The Declaration also outlines a selection of necessary measures to address the four main modifiable causative risk factors for NCDs – physical inactivity, inadequate diets, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol. It also designated the second Saturday of September as Caribbean Wellness Day. La Rocque said that this year’s focus is on addressing the prevention and control of NCDs among the regions’ young people. It is being held under the theme “Ensuring healthy lifestyles among our youth for a brighter future”.

Courtesy: www.cananewsonline.com