By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 10
, 2019 (ZIZ News): An official ceremony was held in the Independence Square on Friday to formally launch the SKN Moves Initiative.
Inspired by the Jamaica Moves initiative, SKN Moves aims to encourage a healthy lifestyle centred culture with healthy eating practices, regular physical activity and regular health check/screenings.
This idea was presented to CARICOM by Jamaica’s Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton in May 2018.
One year later, St. Kitts and Nevis has implemented the program which increases the awareness of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden in the Caribbean through a holistic approach to healthy living.
During her opening remarks, Chief Medical Office Dr. Hazel Laws spoke about the overall goal of SKN Moves and how the program aims to tackle the growing challenge caused by NCD’s in St. Kitts and Nevis.
A recent health report revealed that Non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, hypertension and chronic kidney disease account for 83 percent of total deaths in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Minister of State with responsibility for Health, Hon. Wendy Phipps addressed that figure and added that NCD’s are killing our people at a higher rate than the global population.
“I say that because the global death due to NCD’s is about 71%. So we are at 83% and the global figure is 71%”, Minister Phipps explained.
Meanwhile, during his presentation. Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris said the SKN Moves is necessary to help our nation pay more attention to our health and wellness considering the drastic effects Non-Communicable diseases have on our people.
The SKN Moves initiative theme is “SKN On The Move and Eating Right”.