Published 18 November 2019
Buckie Got It. St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
St. Kitts Diabetes Association hosts successful ‘Walk against Diabetes’
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, November 18, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — The St. Kitts Diabetes Association has acknowledged that the Walk against Diabetes held on Saturday November 16 was the most successful, having attracted the largest number of participants including Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, and Minister of State for Health Senator the Hon Wendy Phipps.
President of the St. Kitts Diabetes Association Nurse Christine Wattley, while offering a prayer of thanks at the end of the walk at the Cenotaph (War Memorial) in Fortlands, said they were standing at an area with a monument “because diabetes is a monumental task, but we are stronger together.”
The walk was held under the theme ‘Diabetes: Protect your Family’ and thanking the participants for showing that they care about diabetes, Nurse Wattley added: “We are going to continue to bless each and every one of you, and we just do not want you to think about the intervention today, but for the rest of our lives.”
World Diabetes Day was observed on Thursday November 14, but the St. Kitts Diabetes Association marked it with a week of activities so as to intensify its public education campaign on diabetes. According to the association’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Reginald O’Loughlin, the week started on Sunday November 10 with a church service and ended on Saturday November 16 with a special event dubbed ‘Blue Gala Event – A Night of Hope’.
The Walk against Diabetes participants, from all walks of life, had assembled at the Cenotaph early in the morning on Saturday and after a prayer by Pastor Phillip Webbe, they were led through a series of warm-up exercises by fitness guru Mr Elston Nisbett before setting off at 6:19 am. They walked along the Bay Road going all the way to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank roundabout and returned to the War Memorial.
“The walk was quite successful, bigger than it has ever been before with the Prime Minister and a number of government officials involved,” said Dr O’Loughlin. “A number of organisations were represented including SKNYPA (St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association), Lions Club, and Rotary Club among others. We had a wheelchair-bound person who came to show her solidarity and support, as a living example as some of the things people face when they are challenged with this particular malady.”
Eight-month old Baby Asmara Hodge who was pushed in her pram by her mother, Ms Teresa Hamilton, and wheelchair-bound 61 year old Ms Marcella Farara were the darlings during the entire course of the walk.
The Ministry of Health was represented by Minister Senator the Hon Wendy Phipps, and Permanent Secretary Mrs Deloris Stapleton-Harris. Six members represented the St. Kitts Basseterre Lions Club, including Treasurer Mrs Isilma Hendricks, 2nd Vice President Ms Bernadette Dolphin, and Past President Ms Adora Warner.
A number of the participants would have joined the walk along the way, but of the walk participants who completed the entire course, Ms Sheena Robinson and Mr Glenville Maloney were the first to return to the War Memorial.
After all the participants returned to the War Memorial, a prayer was offered by Pastor Anthony Evelyn after which they were addressed by fellow walk participant Federation’s Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, who is also the Lead Spokesperson for Human Resource Development, Health and HIV/AIDS issues in the CARICOM’s Quasi Cabinet.
