Sports and Games being used to improve health of public servants

Nelson Hillocks, the director of sports, is using this year’s newly branded Inter-Ministerial and Statutory Bodies Sports and Games to enhance the level of fitness, wellness and health among public servants.{{more}}

“We want to enhance the levels of fitness, wellness and health among our public servants and our families because we know we have a lot of chronic, non-communicable diseases…and we want to improve our public servants’ health.”

Hillocks, who made his comments while speaking at a press conference at the National Insurance Service (NIS) training room on Monday, also expressed hope that the games would foster camaraderie among public servants.

Also speaking at the press conference was representative from the Ministry of Tourism Joanne Patrick, who stated that it is important for both employers and employees to embrace exercise and fitness as a lifestyle.

“Fit employees are less likely to get sick, so we will reduce the level of absenteeism on the workplace; fit employees have more energy and so they work throughout the day.”

Additionally, she noted that the games are not only for the active and physically fit, but also cater for persons who are not active in sports.

Minister of Tourism, Sports and culture Cecil ‘Ces’ McKie stated that the games will help to encourage persons to be involved in physical activity. He added that with the involvement of statutory bodies, there would be more participation in the planned events.

Moreover, McKie noted that society on a whole has too many overweight and obese people, who also suffer from non-communicable diseases, which he sees an indication of person not engaging in physical exercise.

“We look in the primary schools and right up to our general society and we must admit that we see far too many persons who are overweight, in some cases obese, and we see younger and younger persons suffering from non-communicable diseases.

“This makes this particular event even more important, as we say to our nation that we are not satisfied…,” he stated.

McKie also noted that games will promote the services available from the Department of Physical Education and Sports and encouraged other ministries to use them.

“We need to remind them that they can engage the department and the department can come to the ministries or take them to a particular setting and do activities with them.”

Also he said the activities will broaden and deepen the relationships among members of the public service.

The games will be officially launched on March 8 at the Arnos Vale Playing Field by Prime Minister and Minister of the Public Service Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who is expected to offically declare the games open.(CM)