Know your health status

It is important for persons to know their health status.

Speaking during the launch of Barbados Moves at Ellerton Community Centre yesterday afternoon, Minister of Health in Jamaica, Dr. Christopher Tufton, encouraged persons to go to the doctor to know their health status.

“Know your health status, because when you know, you know how to deal with it and then know your vulnerabilities,” he said.

“Caribbean people tend to go to the doctor when they’re sick and not go to the doctor when they don’t feel sick, which is important.”

The Minister pointed out that three weeks ago, during a UN High level meeting in New York, they met, discussed and confirmed an approach to health and wellness, that focused on prevention.

He explained that the “Caribbean Moves” initiative was simple as it pointed out the importance of exercise each day, half an hour for adults and 60 minutes for young people and highlighted the importance of a balanced diet.

He believes that knowing your health status, exercising and having a healthy diet will go a long way in dealing with the growing obesity crisis, which is the reason for 70 per cent of deaths.

“So ‘Caribbean Moves’ is an attempt to mobilise the region one country at a time, and one person at a time through taking personal responsibility for your health and by doing the things that are responsible for a healthy life,” he said.

“Finally, it’s about uniting the Caribbean through one message, one method, one approach and by extension strengthening us as a people.”

He explained that the idea behind Caribbean Moves was not to dictate – as he believes that each country will do their own thing in keeping with its customs, capacities and traditions – however, he believes it will be beneficial to share initiatives that work and do not work with each other, so that each country participating has a chance to learn from each other.