YOUR WELLNESS MATTERS MAGAZINE

The Wellness Unit is not only important; it is essential for the delivery of quality healthcare services throughout The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Evidence demonstrates that as a population we are extremely unhealthy - and traditional medicine is one aspect of providing care, but we must also look at the individual from a holistic point of view, which encompasses physical activity, one’s mental state and spiritual wellbeing. These are absolutely essential on the way forward to delivering quality healthcare services throughout the country.

HON. DR. MICHAEL DARVILLE, MP Minister of Health & Wellness

I’m really happy that the Ministry has added Wellness to Health. For too long the focus has been on the treatment and management of different illnesses. When wellness is added, it gives us a better opportunity to look at health from a holistic point of view. It introduces a new culture of health and wellness in our country.

MS. SHANDERA SMITH Nutritionist

We are excited to partner with providers that are not usually related to the public sector. You’re looking at nutrition counselling, mental health counselling and physical fitness instruction. All of these will be used to strengthen our holistic approach to wellness at the Wellness Unit and the strengthening of the services that we provide to everyday people.

DR. PHILLIP SWANN Registrar Ministry of Health & Wellness

To advance and support the move towards a healthier Bahamas –person by person, community by community, island by island.

Mission Vision

A Bahamas where all people are well educated about health; have the tools and support necessary to engage in healthy behaviours; and actively seek to be healthy – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Wellness Unit Values:

Health care as a human right Diversity Inclusion

Education for all Equity

Goals

To motivate people to improve their physical, mental and emotional fitness.

To put a focus on healthy nutrition.

To provide programmes, services, and opportunities for people to engage in wellness activities in their communities.

To promote the importance of health and wellness in improving overall health.

To provide the community with tools that will support their fitness journeys.

To provide education to children on the importance of fitness.

To provide data to show the progress of the programmes.

The launch of the “Your Wellness Matters” Campaign is significant because it signals to The Bahamas, and to the world, that we are serious about our health. It is especially significant at this point in our history, as we continue on the Road to 50. At almost 50, there are many things our small and strong nation can boast of. We have produced Grammy Award winning musicians in Bahamen; an Oscar winning actor in Sir Sidney Poitier; a group of exceptionally successful entrepreneurs in the Sunshine Boys; a prestigious MacArthur Foundation Fellowship grantee

in Tavares Strachan; an Olympic Gold medal winner in Shaunae Miller-Uibo; and the first Black President of the United States Golf Association in Fred Perpall.

There are so many other people and things that tell our success story, but it is imperative that we become a healthier people, so that we are here to tell that story to generations to come.”

HON. PHILIP DAVIS, KC, MP Prime Minister & Minister of Finance, Commonwealth of The Bahamas

GET LIT, STAY FIT!

Motivate yourself to have fun while exercising. It doesn’t have to be boring. You can try dancing/ Zumba, cycling, and swimming, which are all exciting activities that can help you stay fit.

Thehealth of a nation, is the wealth of a nation. In fact, a healthy populace is directly linked to a country’s prosperity and its ability to flourish.

To meet those goals, we must look at our individual and collective health and wellness from a holistic point of view. One that acknowledges the balance of physical, intellectual, and emotional wellbeing. Being healthy is no longer simply being free of disease – now, “healthy” also means happier, more fulfilled, and longer lives.

The science is clear; a focus on overall wellness helps to prevent the onset of noncommunicable diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, all conditions that lead to an overuse of our tertiary healthcare systems.

For all our accomplishments, recent studies show that The Bahamas has the most unhealthy population in the region; with rates of obesity, and cardio vascular disease reaching alarming levels. A focus on holistic wellness is essential and vital to the survival of our people and to the delivery of 21st-century healthcare services throughout the country.

As the Ministry of Health and Wellness, we are moving quickly to implement the wellness and lifestyle modifications needed to help Bahamians take ownership of their health and capitalize on programmes that focus on nutrition, physical activity, as well as mental health strategies that allow individuals to improve their own quality of life.

Our strategy seeks to ensure that wellness programmes are activated in schools and at the grassroots level in every constituency, and every community across the country. This multi-sectoral initiative will engage the talents and resources available across both the public and private sector. We will engage with wellness champions whose mission will be to deliver wellness instruction, teach nutrition, engage in physical activity, and mental health strategies to at-risk communities throughout our archipelago.

We, at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, realise that a holistic and whole-society approach is the only way to reduce the prevalence of unwellness in the country. It is our responsibility to push for behavioural changes, while also maintaining topof-the-line healthcare facilities and implementing other components like the National Health insurance plan, programmes that undergird the healthcare system.

Here at the Wellness Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, our mission is “To advance and support the move towards a healthier Bahamas – person by person, community by community, island by island.” This is our focus, because we are Bahamian too, and we truly believe that Your Wellness Matters. Together, let’s look at the health challenges that impact Bahamians. Let’s reaffirm our commitment to prioritising, developing, and enforcing strategies that not only combat health concerns, but ensure better access to the healthcare systems that support us. Together, we can succeed in overcoming our unwellness and truly become healthy and thriving citizens of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Let us all embark on this exciting journey to national wellness, together!

GET YOUR GREEN ON

Don’t just focus on fruits and neglect vegetables. Incorporate vegetables into every meal to increase the number of servings you eat per day, thereby increasing your vitamin intake, as vegetables are rich in vitamins and nutrients.

IMPORTANT DATES ON THE WELLNESS CALENDAR

LOCAL EVENTS AND INITIATIVES TO

BE ANNOUNCED

Fit-for-50 Challenge

The Walk in Paradise

The Wellness Fair

INTERNATIONAL DATES

1st – 30th April

7th April

1st – 31st May

8th – 14th May

15th – 21st May

15th – 21st May

21st May

12th – 18th June

25th September

20th – 24th October

1st – 31st October

2nd – 6th October 10th October

2nd November

13th November

19th November

Stress Awareness Month

World Health Day

National Walking Month

Women’s Health Week

Mental Health Awareness Week

Learning at Work Week

World Meditation Day

Men’s Health Week

National Fitness Day

International Week of Happiness at Work

Speak Up Month

National Work-Life Week

World Mental Health Day

National Stress Awareness Day

World Kindness Day

International Men’s Day

WORK BALANCE ≠ BURN OUT

Are you suffering from burnout at work? Work balance should not equal burn out. Workplace wellness is important in helping you achieve overall work/life balance. Set boundaries at work to ensure you don’t suffer from burnout, and excess stress and anxiety.

STOP THE STIGMA

Stigma surrounding mental illness is a major challenge. It prevents many people from seeking help due to fear of being labelled or marginalised. Do your part to educate yourself on mental illness and how you can help to stop the stigma.

SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT

Do you know anyone anyone who needs a listening ear? Encourage those you know to speak to friends, family members, counsellors, and therapists when experiencing difficulties in life. Use the same advice for yourself; don’t suffer in silence.

HEALTH STATS CANCER

• 1 in every 500 Bahamians has been diagnosed with cancer. In 2018 agestandardized incidence (ASI) of cervical cancer was at 10.9 per 100,000 in The Bahamas, compared to an ASI of 13.1 per 100,000 for the rest of the world.

• 92% of HPV-associated cancers are preventable.

• Data from the STEPS Survey 2019 show that a family history of hypertension ranked highest (72.1%) among respondents followed by a family history of diabetes (51.6%), and then cancer (43.1%), stroke (28.9%), raised cholesterol (28.8%) and early heart attack (9.5%).

• Forty-three percent (43%) of female respondents in the STEPS 2019 Survey between the ages of 45 – 69 years either never had a breast exam by a health professional or have not had one in more than two years (between 2018 and 2019).

TOBACCO USE

• In The Bahamas tobacco use is increasing – rising by 145% over the almost twenty- year period from 2000 (7.1%) to 2019 (17.4%).

• Smoking is more prevalent among men (32.4%) than among women (3.6%) in The Bahamas.

• Almost seventy percent (67.3%) of current smokers smoke at least five (5) cigarettes on a daily basis.

• Infants exposed to second hand smoke are at a 55% increased risk for developing acute lower respiratory infections requiring hospitalization in the first two years of life.

• Non-smoking women exposed to second hand smoke are at a 68% increased risk of developing breast cancer before menopause.

• An 82% increased risk of stroke and a 27% increased risk of ischemic heart disease was recorded in the nonsmoking population exposed to second hand smoke.

OBESITY

• The combined prevalence of overweight and obese adults for The Bahamas is 71.7%, which exceeds the average prevalence of 62.4% for the Region of the Americas.

ORAL HEALTH

• 56.8% of respondents in the survey have natural teeth missing. Noteworthy are the primary reasons for missing natural teeth – periodontal disease and cavities.

MENTAL HEALTH (MENTAL WELLNESS)

• From a mental health perspective, the findings show that men were twice as likely to contemplate suicide, but women were four times more likely than men to make a suicide attempt.

• Overall, 1.8% of STEPS respondents (or close to 7,000 people) shared having attempted suicide at some point during their lives. And, the same percentage had a close family member who died as the result of suicide.

• One in five adults experience some form of mental illness.

DIABETES

• Thirty percent (32.5%) of respondents diagnosed with diabetes and/or hypertension experience complications, including circulation problems and limb amputations as well as kidney, eye, heart and sexual problems.

• 85.3% of STEPS 2019 Survey respondents do not meet the daily recommendation for eating at least 5 servings of fruits and/or vegetables.

CHILDHOOD/ ADOLESCENT ILLNESSES

• According to the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2013, 19.3% of students had seriously contemplated suicide in the past year, while 13.6% actually attempted suicide one or more times in the past year.

• Data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2013 determined that 47.5% of students reported people smoking in their presence on one or more days during the past seven days

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

• Excess salt intake increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other health problems.

• The STEPS 2019 data revealed that forty-seven percent (47%) of men had a history of at least one NCD, compared to 43% of women.

• Men are more likely than women to having a fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular event (heart attack or stroke).

ALCOHOL MISUSE

• STEPS 2019 revealed that a sizeable share (44%) of the population engages in the use of alcohol to the point of being harmful to health and well-being.

• Women were two times more likely to engage in the harmful use of alcohol, while men were more likely to engage in heavy episodic drinking.

• 44.1% of current drinkers consume alcohol to a point where it is considered harmful.

• 18% of drinkers meet the definition of a heavy episodic drinker (they drink at least 5 drinks per occasion at least monthly).

• Between 2017 and 2018, fatal road traffic accidents (RTAs) in The Bahamas rose by 29%.

SALT & SUGAR, THE SILENT SERIAL KILLERS

Excess sodium and sugar largely contribute to cases of hypertension and diabetes within the country. These illnesses are among the most prevalent chronic conditions in The Bahamas and constitute a major part of the noncommunicable diseases endemic in our nation.

MOVE YOUR WAY

Are you exercising regularly? Find your motivation to move! Everyone should be motivated to move and exercise, no matter your ability. Find ways to exercise that are comfortable and appropriate for you.

WELLNESS TIPS

1. Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.

2. Take five to 10 minutes to warm up and cool down properly.

3. Plan to start slowly and boost your activity level gradually unless you are already exercising frequently and vigorously.

4. Stay hydrated.

5. Listen to your body. Hold off on exercise when you’re sick or feeling very fatigued.

6. Take breaks from being still.

7. Think of workouts like appointments. Don’t be a no-show.

8. Do exercises you enjoy. Walking, swimming, cycling and/or dancing are great options.

1. When you are thirsty, reach for water. Staying hydrated helps ensure that your body is functioning at 100%

2. Eat more vegetables and fruit to live longer and have a lower risk of heart disease and obesity

3. Avoid ultra-processed foods like fast food, frozen meals, and canned food because they are filled with empty calories.

4. Get a good night’s rest. Poor sleep is one of the strongest individual risk factors for weight gain and insulin.

5. Resistance

6. A belly-full is not always a belly-fed. Don’t eat with your eyes.

1. Get restful sleep.

2. Take time to laugh. It reduces stress and relieves anxiety.

3. Smile. It is relaxing and will reduce your heart rate.

4. Get some sunshine. Sunlight synthesises vitamin D, which is a mood elevator.

5. Eat nutritious food. Salmon, flaxseed and walnuts help to reduce the rates of depression.

6. Be mindful of common triggers and plan for unavoidable known triggers.

7. Know when to reach out. Knowing when to get help from friends, family, or a professional is important.