BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports have revealed an exciting week of activities under their banner for the 30th Anniversary Celebrations of the Federation's Independence.
This year's Independence would be held under the theme: “Stability, Creativity and Prosperity, Independence Thirty” and would be celebrated with one month of activities with each week being focused on different sub-themes.
Week one is dubbed "National Health and Fitness" and is geared towards the Federation's health and wellness.
At a press conference held yesterday (Aug. 27) at ZIZ Studio, Acting Director of Sports Jeffery Hazel revealed that, with regards to the fitness aspect, the Ministry would be doing bigger and better activities for the upcoming Independence celebrations.
He informed that the Sports Department has moved away from the usual activities with the aim of having grander events for the Federation's 30th Independence celebrations.
On Sunday (Sept. 1), Hazel said that there would be a Community Run-a-Mile Festival where a team of 10 persons, starting at Sir Gillies in Sandy Point at 3:00 p.m., would run until they get to Fort Street in Basseterre. Each person, he said, would run one mile.
Hazel said that the Ministry would be having a panel discussion on Monday (Sept. 2) at ZIZ Radio and Television, where they would be discussing the development of sports over the past 30 years and future possibilities.
He informed that on the following day (Sept. 3), the Ministry would be featuring the development of Sports over a 30-year period on the ZIZ Programme "Action Sports".
Wednesday (Sept. 4) is dubbed Body Balance Fitness Sessions where the country would be split into six areas.
"The Body Balance Sessions would have aerobics, stretching [and] those sort of activities so that we can get the people involved in fitness activities. So instead of you doing the normal walking on the streets at afternoons, we're inviting the persons to go through the back of the Treasury in Basseterre, Sandy Point Hard Court, Saddlers Lawn, Cayon Hard Court and we're going to do one in Frigate Bay...six areas that we're going to be having the Body Fitness Sessions."
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Andrew Skerritt said that that Ministry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports, would be putting on a Health Fair at the Independence Square on Friday (Sept. 6) from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
"We've done this in the past but this year we plan to make it one of the biggest Health Fairs we've ever had and, in doing this, we would have a few services that we would like to display," he said.
He said that they would have HIV/AIDS and Nutrition counselling, noting that is the Ministry's goal to reduce the spread of HIV as much as they could.
Glucose testing and hypertension screening, Skerrit said, would also be done at the Fair as the Ministry is also aiming "to have the population become responsible for their health".
"We spoke of BMI - Body Mass Index measurement. It is important to keep your height and weight in check. So we would have persons from the Health Promotion Unit who are out there and, of course, they would be assisted by our Community Nursing Service to ensure that our population maintain the correct BMI for their age.
"We have partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and, of course, the Taiwan Mission, and one of these, the key areas for partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture is to illustrate the role of local and natural foods and the importance of healthy food choices," he explained.
Skerritt informed that the Taiwanese Mission would also have some of their products on display at the Fair as well as OD Brisbane and RAMS displaying health, beauty and fitness products.
He also revealed that a Haemodialysis Centre would soon be opened at the JN France General Hospital, stating that they currently offer peritoneal dialysis.
The PS stated that the Ministry has embarked on a public-private venture with a group on Guadeloupe to provide the much needed assistance to those suffering from renal diseases here in the Federation. The venture is aimed at providing the equipment for them to receive treatment in their homeland.
On Wednesday (Sept. 25), he said, the Ministry would be having an Open Day at the JN France General Hospital where persons would be given the opportunity to tour the hospital, view equipment, meet with members of staff and discuss challenges and success stories.
Both men extended invitations to the public to go out and celebrate with the Ministries for Independence 30.
