The Virgin Islands community is urged to unite to stop the epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases as the Territory observes Caribbean Wellness Day 2021.

Public Health Nutritionist, Patrice Maduro said the term wellness should inspire action to make good decisions regarding one’s physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and social health.

“We want persons to actively pursue health and wellness,” she said, adding, “We want persons to exercise, eat a balanced diet filled with fruits and vegetables, we want you to get in those 10,000 steps per day and live an emotionally balanced life.”

Ms. Maduro said in celebration of Caribbean Wellness Day, the goal is for the community to unite for wellness by posting a picture or short video either getting in those steps, eating healthy or mobilising as a community towards the goal of achieving wellness. 

“We want you to post those pictures or videos to our BVI Public Health Communications page on Facebook with the hashtag #caribbeanwellnessday2021-BVIUnite,” Ms. Maduro stated.

Caribbean Wellness Day will be observed on Saturday, September 11 under the theme, “Power Through Collective Action and slogan In it Together, Building Healthy Communities.”

The day is an annual event geared towards increasing awareness and promoting measures among CARICOM Member States and their populations to address the epidemic of NCDS, which continues to severely impact the health, economy and development of the region. Caribbean Wellness Day originated in 2007 and is designed to promote equitable access to health and to inspire governments, communities and civil society to work together to empower and promote health and wellbeing.

The Government of the Virgin Islands is committed to improving the health of the people of the Virgin Islands.