Dominica observes ‘World Health Day 2016’ Today 7th April, under the global theme ‘Beat diabetes’

Dominica joins the rest of the world in observing World Health Day today under the global theme, "World Health Day 2016: Beat diabetes”. This event is celebrated on 7th April every year, to mark the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948. 
 
According to a release, World Health Day provides a unique opportunity for communities from across the world, to come together for one day, to promote actions that can improve our health.
 
The release states further, that WHO is focusing on diabetes this year, because the diabetes epidemic is rapidly increasing in many countries, with the documented increase most dramatic in low and middle income countries.
 
The theme adopted by Dominica is “Stay Super, Beat Diabetes, with Fit and Healthy Children”.
 
Clinical data indicates the prevalence of overweight and obese children (0 - 59 months of age) increased from 9% in 2000 to 12% in 2009; and an estimated 24.8% of adolescents (13 to 15 years of age) were overweight, and 9.1%, were obese. 
 
One of today’s highlights is a ‘Day of Activities’, at the Roseau Primary School, bringing awareness on the risks of diabetes. WHO is projecting that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030.