Mandeville, Manchester — The Ministry of Health has lauded the Northern Caribbean University’s (NCU) on the third staging of 14 in 14 Education and Wellness Challenge — an all island roadshow, which covered 14 outside broadcasts in 14 parishes in seven days, from July 18 to 22 and July 25 to 26, 2016.

Over the seven-day period, a team from NCU FM visited major towns in each of the 14 parishes with physical fitness routines, mental alertness challenges, and other health-promoting features.

At each stop participants were invited to take on the various challenges, competing for various prizes, an invitation which was gladly accepted in each parish, the NCU team said.

According to the NCU, the 14 in 14 Education and Wellness Challenge was launched in 2014 to get Jamaicans more involved in physical activity as a way towards healthier living.

“The challenge demonstrates that anyone, regardless of age, can get involved in physical activity, and shows that working out does not require expensive equipment but can be done using regular household items.”

The Ministry of Health was one of the sponsors of the event, and director of health promotion and education, Takese Foga, said the ministry was pleased with the initiative and said it was considered as a lead-up to the Caribbean Wellness Day activities to be held in September. Foga added that the ministry was also pleased with the health messages that NCU promoted in general.

“We see [the 14 in 14 challenge] as a lead-up to our Caribbean Wellness day activity, which takes place in September, and this is because [there was] a lot of physical activity, which is part of our highlight for Caribbean Wellness Day, and I know there are different, other messages I have heard like the nutrition and other areas that speak to the whole healthy lifestyle.

“We are actually very pleased with the activities…and generally for the wellness messages that overall NCU pushes,” Foga said.

She encouraged everyone to get involved in physical activity as the benefits were many, including decreased risk of non-communicable diseases, which she mentioned were the leading cause of deaths in Jamaica and worldwide. She added that exercise also strengthened the body and improved mental health.

Foga added that the Ministry of Health was well aware that alone, they would not be able to spread the message of healthy living and applauded NCU for not only helping to spread the message, but for also practising what they preach.

“I believe it’s really a good concept. I do laud NCU for really not staying in one area alone, but really trying to take it across the island, for really seeking partners, and to just really be pushing the health and wellness message, because the more persons take it on, the more people say it [the more people the message will reach]; because Ministry of Health is well aware that we alone can’t [share] this message, we alone can’t create the supportive environment for this kind of message. We really appreciate when we have partners like… NCU, who will come and practise what they preach; not only say the message, but incorporate people in doing the healthy lifestyle practices,” she said.