Family Health Forum 2023 SOSKN
Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 14, 2023 (SOSKN) – St. Kitts and Nevis (August 8, 2023) – Special Olympics St. Kitts and Nevis (SOSKN) proudly hosted a Family Health Forum on Thursday, 3rd August 2023, at the McKnight Community Center, Basseterre. Over eighty (80) persons, mainly individuals/trainees with disabilities from Ades Place and the McKnight Community Center, were screened during the event.
This event was made possible through a Grant from the Special Olympics Family Health Forum program, which supports initiatives that improve the health and wellness of individuals and families with intellectual disabilities. Activities include health screenings, lectures and discussions including diabetes prevention, fitness, oral health, nutrition, navigating the health system, and access to health.
The Special Olympics Family Health Forum program aims to empower individuals with disabilities by promoting health education and wellness programs. It provides a space for families and caregivers to engage with health professionals, community leaders, and social service providers. According to Ms Clarice Cotton, Chair of Special Olympics St Kitts and Nevis, “In hosting this event, we hope to raise awareness of the importance of regular health check-ups amongst persons with disabilities and to encourage healthy lifestyles within the community” she further continued, that when persons think of Special Olympics, they think sports. However, like any other sporting organization, we have to ensure that our athletes are physically capable of training and competing in the sports that they are in, we screen them for health conditions and provide them with health education so that they can compete at their highest level. These events aim to highlight the challenges that athletes and families face and show them how best to overcome them—with a special focus on bettering access to health care, education, and inclusive activities”.
Special Olympics would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Health particularly Dr Marissa Carty, Coordinator of the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit and the SKN Moves Initiative for facilitating this event and for their continued support of programs that cater to individuals with disabilities. We would also like to express our appreciation to the staff of the McKnight Community Center for Persons with Disabilities and all the volunteers for their hard work in ensuring the success of the event.
The general public is encouraged in supporting the Special Olympics Family Health Forum program and to continue advocating for the inclusion and well-being of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of society.
For more information on the Special Olympics Family Health Forum program, please contact National Director, SOSKN via email: sostkittsnevis@gmail.com.