Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr Carla Barnett, on the occasion of Caribbean Wellness Day tomorrow, is focusing attention on the youth of the region.
Dr Barnett says this year’s theme – “Our Mind. Our Body. Our Wellness. Empowering Caribbean Youth” – is a timely reminder that wellness is not only the absence of illness, but the result of daily care and attention to one’s mental, physical and social well-being.
She shares that recent analysis in the region indicates more than 50 per cent of young adults tend towards being overweight or having elevated blood pressure. Forty per cent consume excessive alcohol, and 60 per cent are physically inactive.
She notes that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for a high percentage of deaths in the Caribbean, and while they are perceived as illnesses of adulthood, the risks are increasingly visible among young people.
