Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 8, 2019 (SKNIS): Minister of Health in Jamaica, Dr. the Honourable Christopher Tufton, who pioneered Jamaica Moves, a campaign that engages all sectors of society at the individual, organizational, community and national levels to encourage physical activity, healthy eating and regular health check-ups, is the guest speaker at the launch of SKN Moves on Friday, August 9, 2019.
Dr. Tufton was appointed Minister of Health in March 2016, following his election as Member of Parliament for West Central St. Catherine in February 2016. He is a member of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
He served as Cabinet minister on two previous occasions, as Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce from June to December 2011 and as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from November 2008 to June 2011.
Using Jamaica Moves as a launching pad, CARICOM Ministers of Health have agreed to adopt the health initiative and to mushroom it throughout the Caribbean by implementing national programmes, such as SKN Moves, to foster healthy lifestyles to especially combat NCDs (non-communicable diseases) that is taking a heavy toll on the Caribbean region.
The goal of SKN Moves is to create a healthy lifestyle culture, centered on healthy eating practices, regular physical activity and regular checks/screenings for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
SKN Moves is a scale up of the response to the NCD problem/challenge. Mortality resulting from heart disease, stroke, cancer and complications of diabetes accounts for 83 percent of the total deaths occurring in the Federation and are the leading cause of disability in the population.
The overall goal of SKN Moves is to achieve a 10% reduction in preventable premature deaths due to NCDs by 2025 .
