"Love your body, treat your body right," sang the congregation at the Fellowship Tabernacle, St Andrew, yesterday.

The Ministry of Health was at the church to inform worshippers about 'Caribbean Wellness Day'.

The launch was formed in partnership with several Carib-bean countries at a, 'Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases,' conference in Trinidad last September.

The initiative was launched to raise awareness of preventable measures to reduce the burden of chronic illnesses on the health system. According to a 'Report of the Health Promotion and Protection Division 2003', non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension cost the Government almost $2 billion.

Active healthy lifestyle

Al Miller, pastor of the church in St Andrew, having shed 10lb himself, implored the congregation of hundreds to look after their well-being and promote an active healthy lifestyle.

"A healthy nation is a productive nation and this is linked to the country's gross domestic product," he said. "We need to embrace this new level of sensitivity to health."

Dr Eva Fuller, director of health promotion and protection in the ministry, said health was as much an individual responsibility as it was a state concern. She urged people in the church to "treat your bodies right every day and focus on physical activity".

"It will benefit the mind, body and spirit," she said.

Fuller read a speech on behalf of Health Minister Rudyard Spencer, which highlighted poor lifestyle choices such as lack of physical activity, smoking and drinking.

A health fair to encourage persons to lead a healthy lifestyle will be held on Saturday at the Urban Development Corporation's car park, downtown Kingston.

The ministry has urged people to contact their regional health centres to gain more information on the list of activities other organisations will be launching.

Caribbean Wellness day launched at Fellowship Tabernacle