Here's to your health, Bahamas: a national health promotion programme initiative

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To design and implement a national health promotion programme in the Bahamas. DESIGN AND METHODS: A ten-week programme was designed for Bahamas to incorporate healthy lifestyle behaviour practices. A nurse-physician health team evaluated participants for 10 designated parameters of good health, initially, and then at the end of the ten-week period of health promotion and education. Private and government businesses were invited to enrol their employees as a group and compete for the Healthy Company Awards. RESULTS: From 12 Bahamian Island communities, 6,217 residents participated in the programme, 35 companies registered for the Healthy Company Awards competition. The 10 designated health indices were analyzed in a subset of 23 private companies on the Island of New Providence. In the Healthy Company Awards competition 1,636 persons were enrolled of whom 599 (67.4 percent females, 32.6 percent males) completed the 10-week programme. The mean overall score improved from 5.9 to 7.5 (SE +or- 0>1, p>0001). In the mass media campaign, 3 newspaper articles were published, 7 radio programmes were aired, one TV programme was produced and aired, and weekly health features were spotted at news times on the television and radio. Billboards were strategically placed at the roadside. Government health agencies and health allied Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) coordinated and conducted weekly lectures, four community fora, one health fair, health walks, and a no smoking programme. The national programme was self-funded $75,331 US was generated from corporate sponsorship and company registration fees, thus balancing the projected budget. CONCLUSION: Bahamians are willing to undertake healthier lifestyles if so informed and educated. The programme's success formalized a health promotion Unit within the Ministry of Health.(Au)