The Lions of Barbados are turning their attention to childhood cancers.
Word of this has come from the Lions’ Zone chairperson Alison Bishop who was speaking as the service club hosted a health expo to coincide with this year’s World Health Day which was recognised yesterday.
Bishop told the audience, which included Lions from all nine districts, that Lions and Leos were dedicated to fighting diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
“We are committed to vision care and now we have added paediatric cancers to our repertoire,” she said, adding: “It is our hope that this event will educate fellow Barbados to live healthier lifestyles and to make better food choices.
Bishop further said it was important to realise that exercise was important in the fight against chronic non-communicable diseases.
She added: “Universal health coverage is about ensuring all people can get quality health services where and when they need them without suffering from financial hardships.”
Meanwhile, PAHO/WHO representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr Godfrey Xuereb, said Barbados and the Caribbean had made significant progress towards universal health.
“We emphasise the need to address access barriers including the social determinants of health. The region of the Americas remains one of the most inequitable in the world,” he said.
Meanwhile, general manager of the Barbados Workers’ Union Cooperative Credit Union, Corinne Clarke, reaffirmed the credit union support of the health fair.
Support too came from a number of organisations including the Myeloma, Lymphoma and leukaemia Foundation of Barbados and the Katrina Endometriosis Fund Association, as well as the Ministry of Health and the Barbados Fire Service.
Visitors to the booths in Heroes Squares took advantage of free blood pressure and blood sugar checks, as well as gathered information on a variety of health issues. (HLE)
