Local Rotary and Rotaract clubs convened their Presidents’ and Assistant Governor’s Dinner Meeting this month to discuss childhood obesity prevention and their Clubs’ roles in supporting healthier outcomes for Vincentian children.
The meeting brought together Rotarians, Rotaractors, friends of Rotary, and specially invited guests including the Minister of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health and Energy, Daniel Cummings, Deputy Chief Education Officer Joycelyn Blake-Browne, Chief Health Promotion Officer Shanika John-Trent, and Senior Nutritionist Alicia Ferdinand.
The engagement was jointly hosted by the Presidents of the Rotary Club of St. Vincent – Felicia Cumberbatch, the Rotary Club of St. Vincent South Kim Haydock, and the
Rotaract Club of Kingstown Angelina Questelles, under the leadership of Assistant
Governor Janelle Allen, in support of Rotary District 7030’s 2026 “Rotary Moves”
campaign on Childhood Obesity Prevention.
Focusing on the advocacy pillar of the campaign, the meeting allowed for meaningful discussion around practical, policy, and legislative approaches to protect children’s health and support the adoption of healthy lifestyles.
Cummings, a former member and past president of the Rotary Club of St. Vincent, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with Rotary and Rotaract to develop and implement sustainable programmes that promote healthy lifestyles among children.
“Recognising the far-reaching implications of childhood obesity, Rotary and Rotaract clubs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines remain committed to collaboration, advocacy, and partnership in safeguarding the nation’s future,” a press release said.
Glad to hear that SVG is serious about preventing childhood obesity. I guess a good place to start ìs to encourage all mothers to breastfeed their babies up to the age of six months. In my day there was no such thing as obesity, I guess that is because we did not have access to these junk foods, such as fried chicken, burgers, chips and the like.
We spent our time playing sports such as rounders, cricket, volley ball or just playing in general. Today children spend a lot of time indoors scrolling on their phone’s tablets or computers, afraid to go out and play because of the way society is now organised.
Please reassure our youngsters that playing outside will not get them stabbed or shot. Vincentians are lovely generous people, so all you volunteer out there, roll your sleeves up and help to get our youngsters moving in whatever sports they are interested in.
I am just wondering and hoping that the powers that be are not being persuaded to focus on obesity in order to encourage the medical teams to prescribe this new wonder drug on the block given for obesity.