The original article can be found in: The Barbados Advocate By Kerri Gooding
Having assessed the situation first, the University of the West continues to work on reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases amongst the staff.
To make a greater impact upon the poor health and lifestyle choices of staff members, the University of the West Indies (UWI) upgraded its health day to a health week three years ago, and yesterday launched this year’s instalment with new additions.
According to co-ordinators, the aim annually is to improve the health and well-being on campus, but the University does not wish to proceed blindly. Hence, UWI conducted a survey to assess the situation in 2010 and each year is developing activities to combat poor health choices and encourage healthy lifestyles.
Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Professor Joseph Branday, said that in 2010 he too “observed and read reports on the high incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases and noted what appeared to me to be the high incidence of obesity in young people on the campus. […] So during Health Day 2012, at the request of the University Administration, the Faculty of Medical Science launched a survey to collect data on risk factors for non-communicable diseases amongst the staff at Cave Hill.”
Pleased with the initiative displayed by the administration, Branday said that the University felt that more needed to be done and more was done. Using the survey as a map, a plan to combat the poor health situation was created. The results of the findings of the survey were not just documented and left, but as they supported the view that more needed to be done, several important interventions were introduced.
Branday said, “As a response to the findings of the survey, in 2011, the Faculty of Medical Sciences launched the Healthy Campus Initiative to promote healthy lifestyles.”
Yesterday at the start of the health week, MASS Monday, Branday revealed that this year, “we will be introducing individual and team competitions to promote both weight loss and fitness”. He said that the University is building their approach every year. “In 2011, we concentrated on weight loss with the ‘Biggest Loser Competition’. In 2012 we added the ‘Fit 5 Challenge’ to promote physical fitness.”
However, Branday said all this comes in addition to weekly line dancing and the co-operation of the UWI Sporting Staff Association and Health Week Committee to include soca aerobics during competitions, as the campus seeks to extend the healthy activities throughout the year. (KG)
