The Move Ya Body Anguilla, healthy life-style initiative rolls into Island Harbour on Sunday June 24th from 4 pm with the Color Me Happy Run/Walk activity. The first installment of the Color Me Happy event took place in The Valley on April 26 and was a resounding success with close to 100 persons enjoying the planned activities. Island Harbour could look forward to a fun filled afternoon with exciting activities for all, as the Sports Department continues rolling out activities for the Move Ya Body Anguilla campaign.
The campaign is a joint initiative between the departments of Health (Chronic Disease Unit) and Sports, and speaks to the transformative power of diet and exercise to our health-related quality of life. The Director of CDU, Twyla Bradshaw-Richardson, says that the initiative is a response to the feedback coming out of the STEP survey of 2017. The survey revealed some startling facts about the health condition of Anguillians. Most strikingly, more than 70% of the population is overweight and that number is even higher when we look at the female population alone. In its 2011 report on the Growing Burden of NCD’s in the Caribbean, the World Bank noted that while NCD’s are mostly preventable they account for close to 70% of deaths in the OECS with women at higher risk.
Andre Collins, Director of Sports, also says that the STEP Survey results influenced the Department to join in this effort. He pointed out that the Department of Sports began implementation of its National Strategic Plan in January of 2018 with the central theme of a Happier Healthier Anguilla. The findings, he said, painted a bleak picture and there was a need to begin a very aggressive response to the situation. The Move Ya Body campaign has 2 basic elements which are nutrition and exercise. Both directors agree that these 2 are the foundation of good health, and so focusing on getting people to eat their recommended 5 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily, and exercising for 3-5 times a week, would begin a turn-around in the general health-related quality of life of Anguillians.
Mrs. Bradshaw-Richardson explained that the campaign has a very strong focus on raising awareness, and soon we will see various types of signage up that would remind us of these messages. A website was also launched which will keep everyone posted on the activities of the initiative. Soon there will also be signage to raise the awareness of motorists of the high exercise zones on selected routes. The activity that will be taken to Island Harbour forms part of the physical activity component of the initiative. The Color Me Happy Fun Walk/Run will have participants traverse through the scenic community of Island Harbour while engaging in fun activities at identified activity stations and culminating in an aerobic session. Mr. Collins promises that fun will be had by all. He reiterated that it was an activity for everyone and the stations would be responsive to all levels of fitness conditions. So come and run or walk and Move Ya Body!
Find out more @ moveyabodyanguilla.com
