Barbadians need to take better care of themselves.
There is no better or simpler way to say that the wealth of this country depends more than we realise on the health of its people.
This fact was borne out just yesterday when the chief manager of the National Productivity Council, Anthony Sobers, gave startling figures that drew a link between poor health and the declining wealth of this nation.
He reported that a staggering $300 million or so was lost between 2012 and 2013 in the key sectors of transportation, storage and communication; wholesale and retail, accommodation, agriculture, construction, financial services and manufacturing.
He placed this hard, cold fact squarely on poor dietary habits, lack of exercise and complications associated with chronic non-communicable diseases.
It is clear, therefore, that as a country and as individuals, the need to pay greater attention to health cannot be ignored, nor understated.
The time to clean up our act is now. Barbados cannot continue in this vein where millions of dollars are being flushed down the drain because of bad health habits. Clearly, we all need to do better and take responsibility for our health.
As individuals, the need to eat well and exercise regularly are key to a healthy lifestyle which would not only redound to better productivity on the job but also a general positive outlook on life.
Today, there are many companies in Barbados that promote healthy lifestyles and encourage employees to get active. Some businesses also have wellness programmes that are well incorporated as part of their office regimens.
These types of initiatives are proving to be a very important and critical part of companies’ annual agendas, especially since those at the helm recognise that the success of businesses depend partly on the health of employees.
Also given the high incidence of non-communicable diseases in Barbados, especially diabetes and high blood pressure, attention to health cannot be overemphasised.
Health and wellness consultant Lennox Prescod showed how improved health could contribute to increased productivity and company savings by citing an example of a local company which saved $180 000 in one year because of its wellness programme.
We therefore encourage companies that are not yet on board the “health train” to do so now.
The important role health plays in our own lives, in the success of companies, and at a macro level the economy, cannot be ignored.
We endorse the call made by Mr Sobers who said it was “critical” to pay attention to health and wellness in order to improve national inputs.
Good health can lead to increased wealth for us all.
