To observe Caribbean Wellness Day, last Saturday, 10th of September, under the theme “Healthy Children, Healthy Environments”, the communities of West Road, Overback and North Backsalina participated in a cleanup campaign. Residence in the West Road area cleaned their yards and left the bags of garbage at the road side to be collected while the Overback community engaged its residents in a general cleanup. The North Backsalina area also engaged in a general cleanup mainly in the Garden area.
“The cleanup was a huge success, with communities taking ownership for their areas including the churches within the 3 communities. This is the beginning of many cleanup campaigns to come as we engage each community within the Turks and Caicos Islands”, said Director of the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit, Mrs. Aldora Robinson.
“Zika is a major threat and we must ensure a clean community to remove all breeding mosquito breeding sites. No mosquitos, no Zika. Major collaboration between stakeholders like the Environmental Health Department, TCI Red Cross who provided materials and other support, Fortis TCI, Clyde Holiday, community Churches and residence within the various communities.”
On the Island of Providenciales, at 5 am the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence held a Suicide Prevention Walk to raise awareness about the issue of suicide. This was the second year of the observance, which helps to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental illnesses.
According to local statistics, there were 7 suicide related deaths since 2009. As part of the observance, depression screening day was also held on September 12th at the general hospitals and government operated clinics. This event provided an opportunity for interested persons to be screened and given advice on how to manage depression symptoms.
In the evening, another successful event was held, Torch for Health, where the Hon. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, Minister of Health, Agriculture and Human Services, ran the Torch for Health onto the field of the Downtown Ballpark at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sport Center and passed the Torch to our very own Olympian, Mr. Delano Williams, who then completed a run around the track in front of the attendees and the softball federation. There were booths for information on various diseases and screening. Also participating, were the Diabetic Association and Cancer Society.
