Residents of Manchester Take Part in Jamaica Moves Campaign

Hundreds of Manchester residents converged on the Mandeville Greens on October 5 to take part in the Jamaica Moves campaign.

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, led the enthusiastic group of adults and children of all ages through lively exercise routines.

Dr. Tufton told JIS News that he has found the experience of hitting the road with Jamaica Moves to be very rewarding.

“Once persons understand the message, they want to participate. Also, the design and execution of the programme, which includes health checks and exercise sessions, makes it a fun way to keep healthy,” the Minister said.

Dr. Tufton said Jamaicans must look at the big picture where their health is concerned. “Lifestyle determines long-term quality of life, and it is important that we see our health as firstly our responsibility, so we should eat healthy and do at least 30 minutes of exercise daily,” he added.

Meanwhile, Payroll Officer at the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), Timothy Brown, told the audience that Jamaica Moves has been very good for him, as he has lost 20 pounds since joining the exercise classes.

“I began regular workouts in June. I do them four times weekly with my co-workers. I eat smaller portions, and I have eliminated sugar and now drink lots of water,” he said.

The Ministry of Health launched the Jamaica Moves campaign to encourage Jamaicans to do regular physical activity, along with a balanced diet, in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

The campaign is one aspect of a larger initiative to promote healthy lifestyle habits among Jamaicans in order to reduce non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and chronic renal failure.

To that end, scores of persons received blood pressure checks, as well as screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancers, at the event. Children received dental checks, and everyone got free bottled water and samples of health drinks. Persons also received prizes for answering health-related questions.

Sponsors of prizes were Nestlé, Island Grill, Jamaica Standard Products, Flow, Digicel, and Fersan.

The next stops for Jamaica Moves will be St. Elizabeth on October 27, and Clarendon on November 30. The event was organised by the SRHA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.