‘Weight No More’ campaign introduced

– Health Ministry to tackle Guyana’s overweight and obesity problem
IN Guyana some 60 per cent of the population is overweight and another 31 per cent is obese, staggering numbers for our small country, but the Health Ministry has stepped up to tackle a problem that contributes to diabetes and hypertension – two main chronic non-communicable diseases.
Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, yesterday, made public a new campaign, ‘Weight No More’, which is aimed at using the real life experiences of 11 Guyanese women as a tool to teach the nation and engender a sense of responsibility for one’s individual health.
The Ministry of Health through its television programme ‘Your health, the Nation’s Wealth’ last evening introduced Guyana to the ‘Weight No More’ participant and kicked of the fitness quest to better health. 
Ramsammy said, “This is a silent pandemic. It is easy to see, but no one recognises the pandemic..this problem puts people at risk.”
He dismissed claims that compared the campaign to the popular American reality show ‘The Biggest Loser’ and pointed out that there is no competing for some prize, rather the campaign engages courageous Guyanese who make their struggle for better health public as an encouragement to other Guyanese.
The Health Minister underscored the fact that the road will be a tough one to walk, but said it will be made easier with every step.
According to him, the participant will be engaged for six months, after which new faces will join the programme to continue the programme.
Within the six months, he explained that proper nutrition, diet, physical activity and general lifestyle choices, including medical checkups, will be some of the areas focused on.
“The campaign is here to stay,” he posited.
Ramsammy said the campaign at the end of the day to promote better health for all and the rest of the nation will be able to benefit because the experiences are broadcasted.
He said, “The programme has many facets.”   

Off-air Advances

According to him, there will also be a group going along with the challenge, but doing so without having their experienced broadcasted, an off-air group.
He noted too that the churches, schools and other groups are expected to come on board with smaller ‘Weight No More’ groups.
The participants themselves expressed a general sense of enthusiasm in moving forward with the ‘Weight No More’ campaign.
Additional to the televised advances, Ramsammy said public awareness would be given greater emphasis to inform more persons and have more individuals recognizing the need to take responsibility for their health.
He stated too that the wider public will be engaged and guided through the fitness quest on different social networks including Facebook, the internet and text messaging.
“Guyana must address this issue…obesity or being overweight is not inevitable, it is something we can confront,” he said.
The Health Minister commended the participants on stepping up to the challenged and dubbed them public health leaders
Ramsammy added that he will be throwing out the challenge to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as well as the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).  

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