| As greater emphasis is being placed on promoting healthy lifestyles throughout the world, Guyana, on Friday,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, last, launched “Caribbean Wellness Month 2011” at the Ministry of Health, Brickdam, under the theme “Love that Body: Love Life, Stay Healthy, Live Long”.According to Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy,Wholesale Jerseys Cheap, while Guyana is putting aside an entire month to promote healthy lifestyles, some other countries observe “Caribbean Wellness Week” with the same aim.One of the mandates of CARICOM Heads of Government coming out of their landmark Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad,China Jerseys For Sale, in September 2007, was that there be an observance of “Caribbean Wellness Day”.In addition to 14 other actionable points contained in the Port-of-Spain Declaration to promote healthy lifestyles in the Caribbean, they designated the second Saturday of September as Caribbean Wellness Day.This year, Caribbean Wellness Day will be celebrated on September 10 throughout the Region.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.Dr. Ramsammy stated “the intent is to highlight the fact that healthy lifestyles predispose persons to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). In particular, four lifestyle choices; tobacco, the misuse of alcohol, poor diet choices including preference for fast food and food with high salt and high transfat content, and the fourth being inadequate physical activity”.In Guyana, “Love that Body: Love Life, Stay Healthy, Live Long” campaign is a comprehensive one that was designed to target six main areas of Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Healthy lifestyles:1. Preventing Tobacco Use and Tobacco Cessation for users2. Moderate Alcohol Use3. Daily Physical Activity4. Healthy Foodsa. Understanding Food Labelsb. Understanding that every calories countsc. Balanced diets5. Mental Health6. Early screening for diseasesa. Blood Sugarb. Blood Pressurec. Body Mass Indexd. Breast, testicular,Cheap Jerseys, prostate and cervical cancer screeningThis newspaper was told that this year is being observed with a backdrop on a summit on NCDs which is scheduled to take place on September 19 and 20 at the United Nations where over 100 Heads of States will be attend.This summit is as a result of the global advocacy by Ministers of Health and Heads of States of CARICOM since it was recognized for more than a decade the under-development that was caused by NCDs and the increasing impact NCDs was having on developments around the world.It is hoped that this year’s summit will result in global actions to enhance the fight against NCDs.Dr. Ramsammy explained that in Guyana there have been intensified education and awareness programmes utilising the television, radio, newspapers and community events since the Ministry of Health recognizes that lifestyle plays a very important role in the onset of NCDs.“Any reasonable response would require adjustment of behaviour and adjustment of lifestyle. For people who don’t have NCDs, adjustments could delay or prevent the onset of NCDs. For people who live with NCDs adjustments could reduce complications and they could have long and productive lives even with NCDs”It must be noted that once these adjustments are made, there will be a reduction in heart diseases, end stage renal disease, amputations, number of blind people and other diseases once there is an element of personal responsibility.The Ministry of Health aims to familiarise people with services that are currently offered and services which will be available to the public in a short period of time since Governments have significant roles to play in screening and early diagnosis.Kaieteur News was further told that the availability of the HbA1C test enables to identify people who are at risk for these complications. When an individual records seven percent as their result it means that this person is at high risk for that complication while a record of two percent is deemed normal.This test is a very important one for diabetics and they are encouraged to have at least two of these tests conducted annually. Last year it was introduced at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the National Reference Lab.Dr. Ramsammy continued to say that over the next three months focus will be placed on ensuring that the test is made available at other public hospitals throughout the country and that people throughout the length and breadth of Guyana would have access.The second screening test that the Ministry is working towards is the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). This test was first introduced in the 1980s for use, however, usage was largely restricted to developed countries.This test is considered vital in order to identify men who are at risk for prostate cancer which happens to be the most prevalent type of cancer in men. In the 1990s the test was introduced to Guyana in the Private Sector and was rarely used.Currently the Health Ministry is working to ensure the capacity for PSA testing at the National Reference Lab and is putting in place mechanisms for people using the public sector to have access.As it relates to cervical cancer,NFL Jerseys Clearance, this publication was also told that Guyana has one of the most comprehensive and controlled programmes in developing countries. Within a few weeks time, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine will be offered to girls who are 11-years-old and as resources increase nine-year-old females will benefit from this as well. In 2012, HPV testing is to be introduced for much younger girls and for older women who are already sexually active. If negativity is recorded in women, vaccines will be offered.In addition, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) would identify pre-cancerous or cancerous cells and these can be treated either by cryotherapy surgery or the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP).Thousands of women have already been diagnosed with this disease and hundreds have already been treated for this type of cancer. Two years later there is no recurrence of cancer in the women who were treated. Meanwhile, the footcare programme is in place and regular eye care is being provided for persons with NCDs.“We have much to celebrate, people are more aware and there is greater access to prevention,China NFL Jerseys, diagnostic treatment and care services for NCDs… As we approach the summit during this month, Guyana will be representing the position of many developing countries.There is need for national and global action to address the threat of processed food containing too much salt and transfat, in order to restrict access to tobacco products, promote better use of alcoholic products and prevent its misuse. Also to restrict the advertisement and marketing on alcoholic products” said Dr. Ramsammy.He also urged that the marketing of certain products, such as breast milk substitutes for babies, be restricted. The Health Ministry is using this month to call on the private sector of Guyana to reconsider and remove advertisements which are promoting breast milk substitutes for babies.Caribbean Wellness in Guyana consists of a month of activities and a multi-stakeholder event. It includes line ministries, international organizations, non- governmental organizations and private sector.The activities are carried out throughout the year through programmes such as; Youth Friendly Services, Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Health Care, School Health, Workplace Wellness, “Million Mile Challenge” and “Weight No More – A fitness quest to good health.”This year the proposed events are outlined as follows: Today (September 4th) – Amerindian Village in Sophia; Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Walk; Saturday (September 10) – Health Walk – Start at 06:00hrs; Congregate at CARICOM. The route for the walk is as follows moving East along the Railway Embankment Road – turning North into UG Road – West along the Main Public Road – South into Conversation Tree Road – and East along the Line to re-congregate at CARICOM.The Walk will be followed, on the same day, by a Health Fair at Merriman’s Mall,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, beginning at 10:00hrs.On Friday (September 16) – Berbice Health Fair; Saturday (September 17) –CWD Ministry of Education Technology and Science Fair; Friday (September 23) – CWD West Demerara Health Fair; Saturday (September 24) – CWD Linden Health Fair; Tuesday (September 27) – World Heart Day; Thursday September 29 –GUYEXPO; Friday September 30 – GUYEXPO (Kristen Macklingam) |
