‘Jamaica Moves’ to be Introduced in High Schools

The ‘Jamaica Moves’ programme will be introduced in high schools this fiscal year as the Government ramps up its initiative to encourage Jamaicans to lead healthier lifestyles.

This was announced by Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, during his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 5).

Dr. Tufton noted that the programme will be introduced in the high-school system, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, to expand its reach.

This introduction is to be guided by a nutrition policy, a physical activity regime, as well as public education on health and wellness programmes.

In addition, the Government also intends to develop a health and wellness programme for the workplace.

“This will involve going into the workplaces, speaking to employers and helping them to develop health and wellness programmes within their entities,” he said.

In the meantime, the Health Minister said other initiatives that were started under the programme over the last year will be continued.

This includes parish and community tours around health centres, in conjunction with community-based organisations.

Dr. Tufton informed that under the Jamaica Moves programme last year, more than 5,000 Jamaicans got health checks through parish tours, more than 4,000 persons participated in workout sessions, and 800,000 were reached through mainstream and social media with health and wellness messages.

Jamaica Moves is part of the National Strategic and Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, which covers seven main categories of diseases – cardiovascular conditions, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, sickle cell, mental health disorders and chronic renal failure.

The campaign also focuses on community-level interventions to facilitate increased physical activity among the population.