Video: Minister Opens Walking Expo At City Hall

April 4, 2012

As part of Public Health Week activities, Health Minister Zane DeSilva yesterday [Apr.3] officially opened The Walking Expo at City Hall.

The purpose of the Walking Expo was to highlight the various retailers, health clubs, and walking & running clubs that are in Bermuda for persons wishing to be active and to live a healthier life.

Minister DeSilva Said, “We are pleased to be here in the centre of the City to recognize the theme for Public Health Week 2012, “A Healthier Bermuda Begins Today. Join the Movement”.

“Eating healthy and engaging in regular physical activity are just a two of the simple things [and, I stress, ‘SIMPLE’] that people can do to help stay healthy.”

The Minister’s full remarks follow below:

Good morning everyone,

At the Ministry of Health we try to promote Public Health and healthy lifestyles all year – every month, every week and every day.

But this is a special week on the Health Promotion calendar, because it is PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.

So let me take this opportunity to thank all of you for being here today to join me and the Department of Health as we promote the concept of healthy living for Public Health Week.

We are pleased to be here in the centre of the City to recognize the theme for Public Health Week 2012, “A Healthier Bermuda Begins Today. Join the Movement”.

Sometimes in Bermuda the smallest change can make the biggest difference.

Small actions on an individual level will translate into large benefits for our communities, homes and families.

There are two sayings that I like to apply to health promotion:

• Think Globally and Act Locally; and
• An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – and it is so true.

These sayings weren’t intended to be used in a health promotion context, but I think they fit very well.

Eating healthy and engaging in regular physical activity are just a two of the simple things [and, I stress, ‘SIMPLE’] that people can do to help stay healthy.

These are the “Local”, but their impact on the healthcare system, the “Global”, are astounding.
Each year, many Bermudians die from diseases that could have been prevented by regular exercise, healthy eating and appropriate health screenings.

This is where the ounce of prevention is worth the pound of cure. We have to remind ourselves that it costs a lot more money to treat a disease than it does to take preventative action.

The purpose of today’s Walking Expo is to highlight the various retailers, health clubs, and walking & running clubs that there are in Bermuda for persons wishing to be active and to live a healthier life.

Also on hand is Mr. Robert Sweetgall, our guest speaker for the week, who will be conducting lecture sessions and hands-on activities to promote a healthy lifestyle.

I encourage members of the public to take the opportunity to visit the various booths and participate in the lectures.

I would now like to declare the Walking Expo officially open.

Thank You.

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