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local Monday 26 SepteMber 2022
Focused on a healthier community

Health Expo Against Chronic Disease took place on Saturday

ORANJESTAD – Last Satur- implementation. The min- said that for many years
day, at the Betico Croes ister pointed out that the the general health insur-
Sports Complex, the Health community of Aruba isn’t ance was focused on cura-
Expo Together Against the healthiest, and many tive care, and it was in the
Chronic Disease took suffer from chronic diseases last few years that they are
place, where professionals which are responsible for looking more in the area
in the health sector came many deaths. The special of prevention. With pre-
together to give recom- focus of this expo is to “pro- vention, maybe the results
mendations and tips for vide a platform to all foun- are not immediately seen,
people wanting to lead a dations that are working to but it takes some time to
healthier life. fight chronic disease, to of- see results in numbers. But
fer their services as well as right now, they will share
In the presence of various free medical check-ups to- with the community during
ministers and members day, which are very impor- the launch of the Aruba
of Parliament, the Health tant to take care of your Healthy Lifestyle Centre,
Expo Together Against health”, Oduber said. which is a project funded
Chronic Disease started by AZV for the first time in
at 10am with a speech by Sugar, cholesterol and history. The intention is to
minister of Health and Tour- blood pressure checks, help all those who have
ism, Mr. Dangui Oduber. He among others, were carried problems with obesity to
expressed that after two out. The attending public receive guidance, coach-
years it was possible to or- received information about ing, providing them with a
ganize this conference, what people need to do to menu which they can use
which was programmed have a healthier commu- daily to change and adapt
since 2020 but had to be nity. Healthy food options their lifestyle. This interven-
postponed because of the were also provided, includ- tion is to avoid that the
Covid-19 pandemic. ing classic Aruban snacks people develop diabetes
like pastechi, croket and or kidney disease requiring
“This expo, Together cake, but without sugar, dialysis, oftentimes needing
Against Chronic Disease, is salt and with more natural hospitalization and result-
very important in the con- ingredients. ing in death.
text of our national preven-
tion plan. Today we are “I find it very interesting “AZV and the ministry of
very happy that we could how we are transforming, Health support these ini-
count with the presence of that there are more and tiatives so that we can
interim Governor, Mr. Agus- more small businesses that shift from the curative as-
tin Vrolijk as well as the al- believe in a healthier com- pect to the preventative
ternate president of Parlia- munity in the lifestyle that aspect, because we are
ment, Mr. Raymond Kam- we want, because at the convinced that together
perveen, who showed their end of the day, when you with the health platform
support and trust in the improve your health and and the foundations we will
National Prevention Plan”, change your lifestyle this reach a healthier commu-
Oduber commented. improves your quality of life nity”, Oduber said.
and extends your lifespan”,
This plan was introduced in Oduber said. During this expo, the hos-
2020, and it is currently in Regarding AZV, Oduber pital also showed a dialysis
machine, considering that
this is a good reason for
people to become more
aware regarding preven-
tion so that the future gen-
erations will not suffer from
preventable chronic dis-
ease. A community that is
well informed and has all
the necessary tools can
prevent these types of dis-
ease.

Until 2020, 70 percent of the
population of Aruba was
overweight and 30 percent
of them were obese. This
is because people do not
address these issues, which
is not an option anymore.
Oduber commented that
they began this program to
create awareness and for
people to take action, for
a healthier community.