THE MINISTRY of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) in collaboration with Flex Night Incorporated, last Friday, launched their inaugural Fitness Week which is slated for 2nd to 9th December and will focus on how to combat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), in the Ministry’s boardroom. According to convener of the Fitness Week and former president of the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) Donald Sinclair, both Flex Night and the MCYS aim to raise the awareness regarding the importance of adopting the healthy and fit lifestyle.
Apart from the various sports activities, the issues to be looked at include lifestyle adjustments that can serve to reduce the incidence of NCDs, and the known contributory factors to NCDs such as smoking, inactivity and improper diets, while they aim to make it an annual event.
In order to ensure the smooth running of the inaugural programme, a national Fitness Week Working Group which includes parliamentarians, the media, educational establishments, the joint services, religious organisations, sports organizations, seniors, and persons in sedentary occupations has been arranged to spearhead the planning of the event.
Sinclair said the group, in collaboration with Demerara Mutual Life Insurance Company, is working towards having a Fitness Park established in the National Park and they have already submitted their proposal to the National Park Commission (NPC) and they are awaiting a response.
In his remarks, MCYS Minister Dr Frank Anthony said he was pleased to partner with the activities that are geared towards getting people active and keeping fit, adding that the Fitness Week will demonstrate why people need to get fit, and get them to do something to change their lifestyle if they are living unhealthy.
Dr Anthony said little attention is placed on obesity because persons are making the wrong choices about food and are doing minimal exercising, making reference to the number of people who opt to take the bus or taxis instead of walking, acts that contribute to sickness at an early age and a premature death.
He also took the time to challenge the young generation in Guyana to think of a healthy lifestyle and practise it, urging them to eat healthy and exercise for at least 30 minutes on a daily basis.