The Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, is urging Guyanese to embrace a healthier lifestyle to decrease the number of cardiovascular disease cases.
The minister made these remarks yesterday at the launch of the SOCA Heart Project at the Windjammer Hotel in Kitty, Georgetown, a release from the Ministry of Health (MoH) stated. It explained that this project is a collaboration between the MoH, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Caribbean Heart Institute, and Strides592. It encompasses an educational campaign, an awareness campaign, and a fundraising campaign to promote cardiovascular health in Guyana.
Anthony noted that many diseases are lifestyle-related, highlighting the need for more educational programmes.
“But many of these things are lifestyle diseases, and it’s really how people are living their lives. So on a daily basis, if you’re eating the wrong things, then you will not be healthy, or you will be contributing to getting one of these diseases even faster. I think we need to have an education programme where we teach people how to eat and what to eat. We need more nutritious food, and we need to make the right choices”, he said.
As such, he stressed the need for behavioural change to encourage regular exercise, noting that clubs, friends, and social groups could make it easier for people to exercise regularly by encouraging each other to go out in the morning or afternoon. The minister also suggested that community grounds be utilised for exercise sessions.
