𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
𝟏𝟗-𝟎𝟗-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
SINU CDFL staff and students mark the occasion with a group photo
The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Center for Distance and Flexible Learning (CDFL), in collaboration with the 10,000 Toes campaign team from the South Pacific, launched a new Health and Wellness program on Wednesday, 18 September.
The launch of the CDFL Health and Wellness program was prompted by alarming results from a recent medical test conducted on CDFL staff. This outcome urged the center into action to ensure its staff and students embrace healthier lifestyles.
The program was launched under the vision of attracting all SINU staff to live more abundantly and with the mission to bring health, healing and hope across the university.
According to CDFL staff member Jonny Tasa, who played a key role in establishing the CDFL Wellness team, they are committed to collaborating with others to further expand and execute the vision while actively engaging in the mission.
Mr. Tasa said the vision to dig wider and deeper into SINU is paramount and urgent given that the university has experienced seven deaths in a short period of time.
Guest of Honour and founder of the 10,000 toes campaign, Dr. Chester Kuma congratulated SINU CDFL for taking a step in the right direction in the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which is the number one killer in the country and the Pacific region.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Kuma highlighted that eight people die every day in the Solomon Islands due to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and cancer. He emphasized that these conditions have become the leading causes of death in the country today.
He said one toe is amputated every 20 minutes in the South Pacific due to diabetes. He also mentioned that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) amounted to 75%-85% of the total number of diseases in the country, stating NCDs are the biggest killer in the country.
Risk factors include consuming food high in salt, sugar, and grease. He reminded students and staff to be more careful and pay attention to what they eat. Dr. Kuma also reminds students and staff that lack of physical exercise is also a contributing factor that triggers lifestyle diseases.
He then reminded students and staff that most food sold in stores have hidden sugar, salt, and grease in them, where he encouraged them to eat more organic food for a healthy lifestyle.
Following the successful launching on Monday, SINU CDFL will now involve its staff and students in weekly sporting activities to ensure they live a fit and healthy life.
With that, the SINU CDFL Director Obed Zutu thanked Dr. Kuma and his 10,000 toes campaign team for supporting the SINU CDFL Wellness program, where he said SINU CDFL is taking the Wellness program seriously.
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