FROM as early as 05:00hrs on any given day, Guyanese from all walks of life can be seen running, walking or doing other forms of physical activity in the National Park.
As expected, this green space gets its largest turnout towards dusk when the work day ends and schoolchildren have completed their classes and other daily activities.
In the afternoons, the National Park is transformed into a massive fitness space where a host of physical activities are held. These include yoga, ruby, lawn tennis, athletics, football, the usual running and walking and one-on-one fitness sessions. Others can be seen relaxing under one of the shady trees or benabs or feeding manatees.

Under this administration, ensuring that the population is healthy has been made a priority. Lots of emphasis has been placed on opening green spaces and installing the necessary infrastructure to accommodate regular physical activities in a safe and comfortable environment and of course, ensuring that the population has access to fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and other products that are essential for maintaining good health.

Access to regular physical activity is about to increase 10-fold as two areas in the National Park will soon be transformed into outdoor gyms. In one of these areas, equipment such as exercise bicycles and benches have already been installed. The masons are currently working on the final touches and it is expected that in another two to three weeks it will be ready for use.

Given that there are millions around the world suffering from heart-related complications, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), regular exercise should be made a key part of our daily routine. Just 30 minutes of walking a day can improve our overall health dramatically.
The burden of NCDs on any healthcare system is tremendous. Guyana has not been spared. As government works to modernise the health care system and ensure that there is equal access to services across the country, we all have an individual responsibility to ensure that we live health lives.

According to PAHO, in the Region of the Americas, in 2019, NCDs accounted for 5.8 million deaths, equivalent to 81 per cent of total deaths in the Region. They also accounted for the loss of 226 million disability-adjusted life years, 121 million years of life due to premature death, and 105 million years of life lived with disability or ill-health. These are alarming numbers. More recent data has revealed that things have gotten worse.

Guyana has one of the highest NCD death rates in the Region and it is encouraging to see that many are opting to make lifestyle changes to improve their overall health with the hope of prolonging their time on Planet Earth.

Exercise is a good first step. It not only boosts your physical well-being but it does wonders for your mental health which has declined tremendously for many since the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress associated with work and family, is often times too much for us to bear. Exercise is a natural stress buster.

Projects such as the one being executed in the National Park should be replicated throughout the country. This is a step in the right direction as it gives the population access to resources that will be beneficial to them and ensures that Guyana is on track to achieving Goal Three of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – Good health and well-being.