In Jamaica, Adventist radio station lauded by the Ministry of Health for promoting healthy lifestyle
Ladies join a member of the NCU FM team in a dance routine when NCU FM 14 in 14 Education Wellness roadshow stopped in Montego Bay, Jamaica last month. Images courtesy of NCU
August 12, 2016 | Mandeville, Jamaica | Nadeen Campbell/IAD
An excited crowd cheers on Tam Montego Bay as they take on Team NCU in the tug of war challenge during the NCU FM’s 14 in 14 Education and wellness Challenge.
The young, the old and the middle aged came out in their numbers to get physically active when the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) Media Group took to the streets with the third staging of NCU FM’s 14 in 14 Education and Wellness Challenge – an all island road show, which covered 14 outside broadcasts in 14 parishes in seven days, last month.
Over the seven-day period, the team from NCU FM visited major towns in each of the 14 parishes with physical fitness routines, mental alertness challenges and other health promoting features.
At each stop participants were invited to take on the various challenges, competing for varying prizes, an invitation which was gladly accepted in each parish.
In 2014 the 14 in 14 Education and Wellness Challenge was launched in an effort to get Jamaicans more involved in physical activity as a way towards healthier living. The challenge demonstrates that anyone regardless of age can get involved in physical activity and shows that working out does not require expensive equipment but can be done using regular household items.
Takese Foga (second on the left), director of Health Education and Promotion in the Ministry of Health, joins in on one of the routines in Half Way Tree, St. Andrew.
The Ministry of Health was one of the sponsors for the event, and Director of Health Promotion and Education, Takese Foga, said the Ministry was pleased with the initiative and said it was considered as a lead up to the Caribbean Wellness Day activities to be held in September. She added that the Ministry was also pleased with the health messages that NCU promoted in general.
“We see [the 14 in 14 Challenge] as a lead up to our Caribbean Wellness day activity which takes place in September and this is because there was a lot of physical activity, which is part of our highlight for Caribbean Wellness Day and I know there are different, other messages I have heard like the nutrition and other areas that speak to the whole healthy lifestyle.
“We are actually very pleased with the activities…and generally for the wellness messages that overall NCU pushes,” said Foga.
She encouraged everyone to get involved in physical activity as the benefits were many, including decreased risk of Non-Communicable Diseases, which she mentioned were the leading cause of deaths in Jamaica and worldwide.
This participant joins in one of the routines before her going into work during the NCU FM initiative in Montego Bay.
Foga continued by saying that the Ministry of Health was well aware that alone, they would not be able to spread the message of healthy living and applauded NCU for not only helping to spread the message but for also practicing what they preach.
“I believe it’s really a good concept,” said Foga. She lauded NCU for not staying in only one area but taking it across the island, for seeking partners and for pushing the health and wellness message.
“We really appreciate when we have partners like NCU who will come and practice what they preach; not only say the message but incorporate people in doing the healthy lifestyle practices,” Foga said.