Wai-Tu-Fit 360 hosted its first-ever Health and Wellness Dance Tour to raise awareness about making positive changes to one’s health as well as being one with nature.
Wai-Tu-Fit 360 is an inaugurated Wellness and Leisure Fitness Club, which officially launched on March 19, 2022.
Some of their key objectives are to echo the importance of health as a human right, to promote health strategies and social determinants in a community context, and create an enabling environment for the most vulnerable in the community.
The tour was held on Saturday, September 24, 2022, and visits were made to the Emerald pool, Spanny Falls, Jackie Falls, and the Barana Aute Square in the Kalinago Territory.
Informative sessions were held as well as picnics at the various locations.
President of the Wai-Tu-Fit 360 Kimara Matthew said they felt obliged to step in and make a difference for “our people and our beautiful Dominica.”
The event aimed to encourage and inspire people to stay active while enlightening the public about the wellness resources that abound on the Nature Island.
“It doesn’t require too much to have a healthy lifestyle. We have fresh water and serenity which is a therapy,” she said during an interview with Dominica News Online (DNO).
There were multiple aspects of the affair that raised awareness of prostate and breast cancer, diabetes, and blood pressure.
One of their headline sponsors, La Falaise Medical Laboratory, also participated in the tour, with partners providing information about signing up for the new cancer markers tool launched at the event. The test helps to detect cancer at an early stage.
“Men have been very reluctant in getting tested but now they can test their prostate for cancer without doing any physical examination but through blood sampling,” she said.
There was also a nurse present who provided blood pressure and glucose check-ups to ensure that people know their status.
“While we were connecting to nature and connecting people through dance, we were educating persons on raising awareness [of] the current issues as it relates to cancer cases in men and women, as fatality rates [have] increased over the years. ”
The outreach included several communities along the designated route and gave attention to many persons within their target.
“We informed them that it is never too late to learn and make the changes that you need. We were also able to connect the persons via social media,” she stated.
Matthew revealed that people also reached out and asked to join their group.
Healthy food options were also available such as ‘caco’ tea made with ‘toloma’, fig and codfish, avocado, and fried breadfruit amongst many other dishes to encourage people to always choose a healthier option when picking up a plate.
With the stress of this present pandemic, the group was encouraged to take up the mantle and embrace the responsibility of offering leisure, balance, empowerment, and wellness through unique activities including weekly dance therapy and aerobic sessions, hikes, family sporting, social events, and more.
“As Industrious women engrained in society, we have seen the emergence of the many health challenges over the past decade. These Health challenges [have] continued to increase and have negatively impacted our productive population, especially during the advent of the recent pandemic,” the president stated.
Matthew explained that this culprit has been the cause of 63 deaths during the past two years with 81%, suffering from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), making them more vulnerable and apt to premature death. We have also seen a rise in breast and prostate cancer which has plagued our small and budding population.
“In the capacity of President, I am pleased to inform you that our club has seen these emergencies as blessings in disguise. We have curated a social response, and developed health promotional strategies, creating an enabling environment where our people can live a healthier lifestyle through holistic practices.”
That’s what Dominicans to best: dance… but look at the state of most of them. No wonder our island is suffering from these NCD nowadays.