Officials at the Department of Public Health and the Flamingo Gardens Polyclinic are anticipating that their "Get Up and Move" campaign will take on national significance this year, as they encourage all Bahamians to take responsibility for their own health. The campaign was designed as a challenge to healthcare leaders and managers at the facility and in the public and private healthcare sectors to do more in the fight against preventable diseases.

“Get Up and Move” is also geared toward empowering individuals, families ad communities to take responsibility for their own health. Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez said in addition to official efforts, there must be “action on the part of the client, the family, community, healthcare providers and the executives of the healthcare sector toward a collective effort and commitment in the improvement of the health and well-being of Bahamians everywhere.

“Poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle choices and lack of exercise play a vital role in the development of chronic, non-communicable diseases. Studies have shown that exercise on a daily basis improves the utilisation and control of blood sugar and also strengthens the muscles supporting the large joints and reduces obesity. “(But) Get Up and Move is more than exercise,” Dr Gomez said, “for some of us, it means that we have to move out of our comfort zone and take greater responsibility for improving our health and those in our families and communities. “It means we must make a commitment to partner with key stakeholders in our communities to strengthen existing healthcare services so that collectively, we can improve the health of all Bahamians.”

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