Ban unhealthy drinks & sweets- Elton Georges CMG, OBE
In an hour-long press conference at the association’s office building on Main Street, President of the BVI Diabetes Association, Mr Elton Georges CMG, OBE said he was going as far as saying that the powers that be should consider higher taxes and even a ban on unhealthy drinks and sweets in the territory.
“On the level of policy, that is where the big impacts can be made, ban the sodas and these drinks, and sweets, or put the taxes on them so high…by making them more expensive, by restricting their use,” he pointed out.
He said the same should be done for tobacco which is known to be harmful to health.
Activities
The month of November is World Diabetes Month, being held under the theme: Eyes on diabetes.
Activities such as visits to the senior centres in Brewers Bay, Carrot Bay, Sea Cows Bay and East End, church services at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Road Town and Catholic Community Centre on Virgin Gorda, a walk at the Queen Elizabeth II Park, a visit to schools on Virgin Gorda and Tortola from the 14th to the 18th, a health fair at East End/Long Look Community Centre and Health Screening on World Diabetes day (Monday November 14, 2016) are some of the events marking the month.
No activities will be held on Jost Van Dyke and Anegada; however, in 2017, residents of those islands can expect to be included for the first time.
Diabetes does not discriminate
Meantime, Chair of this month’s activities-Tracia Smith Hodge quoted the International Diabetes Federation which stated that it was estimated that in 2015 over 450 million persons were diagnosed with the illness and that number is expected to increase to 652 million by 2040.
“We have a whole lot of people in the world and we have a whole lot of people silently suffering from diabetes. So here is the importance for the BVI Diabetes Association to raise the awareness in our community. Most of the times you hear about diabetes, you think of the older persons but diabetes does not discriminate when it comes to age, colour, religion, creed; anyone can be diagnosed with diabetes,” she said.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
19 Responses to “Ban unhealthy drinks & sweets- Elton Georges CMG, OBE”
Parents need to watch what they and their children eat. Full stop. Past that, I will fight tooth and nail against my government telling us what we can and can't eat. Strupes!
What a fool you are - showing such ignorance.
That's probably why you name yourself "Lonely"!
Diabetes does not only effect OLD people!
They advise you what you need to do for a longer life - making everyone Aware.
This thing affect beaviour and ability to learn as well as physical health. We all also end up paying for this in unecessary health care cost