Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Carvin Malone is encouraging community members to motivate each other in the quest of a healthier life and a healthier Virgin Islands.

Honourable Malone who is also the Deputy Premier under the Government’s unconventional programme made the call when he met with members of the BVI Diabetes Association earlier today.

The Deputy Premier spoke about the efforts that are being made by the Government of the British Virgin Islands to promote healthier living including the partnership with Lifestyle Medicine Institute. This partnership he stated will see the introduction of the ‘Complete Health Improvement Program’ also known as CHIP, a programme designed to educate persons to practice healthy lifestyles.

Honourable Malone stated that the community has an ally in the Ministry of Health, but that its participation and interest are necessary in order for these initiatives to bear fruit.

The minister said, “Together we can encourage each other to take care of our health by incorporating simple life changes such as group walks, trying new healthy recipes, friendly and motivational weight loss competitions, or simply drinking more water and choosing to consume less sugary meals.”

Honourable Malone further pointed out that unison and motivation among group members have proven to be very effective to achieve weight loss and other health goals.

“Statistics show that individuals who become part of a group or lean on others for support during a weight loss journey, normally tend to lose more weight than persons who attend to embark on the ride by themselves,” he said, adding, “the secret to this is accountability to your group members.”

Honourable Carvin Malone also encouraged members of the Diabetes Association to continue the important work of promoting a healthier community.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development continues to safeguard and promote the health and social wellbeing of the people of the British Virgin Islands.