ST JAMES, Jamaica — Hundreds of senior citizens turned out at Harmony Beach Park in St James on Friday for the launch of the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Park Walker Initiative for Older Adults.

The islandwide programme, which began with a group walk around the park, is aimed at encouraging older Jamaicans to become more physically active and adopt healthier lifestyles.

Director of the Health Promotion and Protection Branch, Dr Simone Spence, highlighted the importance of focusing on wellness and the positive aspects of ageing.

“Too often when people think about getting older, they focus only on the challenges, but today is about focusing on the opportunities — the opportunity to stay active, the opportunity to make new friends, right? And the opportunity to laugh together, to move our bodies and to make sure [of] our health, we are prioritising that at this time,” said Dr Spence.

She stressed that the initiative is designed to be inclusive rather than competitive.

“What is this Park Walkers Initiative really about? It’s not a competition, it’s not about walking fast; it’s about being physically active and moving, but it’s also about community and wellness,” Dr Spence said.

“Sometimes the hardest part of this is just getting started, putting on your shoes, coming out, and taking that first step, that first walk. But when we walk together, you know what we do? We encourage each other, we stay connected, and it makes the journey easier and more enjoyable,” she explained.

Dr Spence added, “And we know that many of our older adults face challenges such as high blood pressure, sugar and loneliness, and older adults stress too, so we want to make sure that we have safe and welcoming spaces to walk and to exercise.”

The day’s activities includes dance aerobics, a presentation on diabetes, health screenings, informational booths, and several wellness-focused presentations.

— Anthony Lewis