Minister says focus on healthy living for fitter old age
(CNS): Marking this year’s world health day which will be celebrated on Saturday the health minister said that this year’s theme which focuses on aging and health and the need to promote good health throughout one’s entire life fits in with the work going on at the health services authority. Mark Scotland said one of the main objectives of the Be Fit Cayman Campaign is to raise awareness of the link between a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of illness, such as diabetes and heart disease. “This campaign also serves to empower people to make the right choices to live a healthier and more productive life in later years,” he said.
The minister said alongside the need to change attitudes, the right kind of medical care is also important in reducing the burden of illness. “The CayHealth programme provides for a coordinated primary healthcare approach, giving people access to a primary care physician, medication care in their community, health education and healthy lifestyles programmes,” he stated. “My ministry is providing critical funding to the Health Services Authority for the CayHealth programme where it is envisioned that a significant reduction in healthcare costs can be realized in the projected future.”
This year’s world health day comes at a time when the world’s population is reaching a first. Over the next five years the number of adults aged 65 and older will begin to outnumber children under the age of 5. This means that those countries which fail to include their senior citizens’ in pro-active and preventative healthcare programmes will see a significant – and maybe even crippling – increase in their health care costs,” Scotland warned.
World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April each year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. A global campaign each year global leaders and the people around the world are asked to focus on a single health challenge with global impact.
It provides an opportunity to start collective action to protect people's health and well-being and to engage in finding solutions.
Ageing concerns us all young or old, male or female, rich or poor – no matter where we live. WHO’s call to action this year is to promote health across the life course for a happy and productive older age and provide access to basic primary health care, long term care and palliative care.
The Health Services Authority and Public Health Department will host several activities that recognize the importance of maintaining good health for a longer life span.
These include Educational sessions on nutrition, exercise and fitness and stress management under the Be Fit Cayman campaign. The aim is to encourage healthier lifestyle for added and productive years to life. The program is organised for persons who signed up for the Be Fit Cayman educational sessions and those registered under the CayHealth program. It is also open to the public.
These sessions will be held on the following days from 5:30pm – 7:00 pm at the Cayman Islands Hospital, Hibiscus Conference Room located inside the Pink Ladies Cafeteria.
11 & 18 April: Nutrition
24 April & 2 May: Exercise and Fitness
9 & 16 May: Stress Management
Free Health Screenings (for diabetes and hypertension) from 10 – 14 April in all District Health Centres, General Practice Clinic Faith Hospital and Little Cayman Clinic between 9 am and 1 pm and at Foster’s Republic and Hurley’s Grand Harbor on 14 April between 10 am and 2 pm.
For further information contact Therese Prehay Health Promotion Officer at the Public Health Department on 244-2632 and see further details below
Category: Health
It's great to focus on good health and aging. But with the present economy – and Cayman's specific problems – most of us will be having to work to a ripe old age!
This year’s world health day comes at a time when the world’s population is reaching a first. Over the next five years the number of adults aged 65 and older will begin to outnumber children under the age of 5. This means that those countries which fail to include their senior citizens’ in pro-active and preventative healthcare programmes will see a significant – and maybe even crippling – increase in their health care costs,” Scotland warned.
Think about this statement and the objective in the end.
This is all well and good but if the minister is truly concerned about the health of our older citizens he will make changes to the insurance laws that will stop the discrimination against our older people. Things he gave lip service to during the last election but has forgotten now. We need portability and the elimination of pre-existing conditions. When you get older the insurance companies do everything they can to get rid of you. If you reach a certain age most companies lower your benefits or drop you. Many are a slave to their insurance coverage unable to change jobs for fear of losing coverage. You cannot continue to complain about the cost to government for payments for services to the un and underinsured if you do nothing to correct the basic problem. It is the job of our elected officials to look out for the people not the insurance companies.
I want my health care decisions to be made by my Doctors; not by corporate executives who are paid to maximize profits for the share holders.
Affordable and quality healthcare should be a basic human right for all people, not just the young, affluent and healthy.