The cost to be healthy is very high, and this is something the needs to be addressed.
This view was expressed by Donna Russell, Executive Director Variety the Children’s Charity Barbados during a recent interview with The Barbados Advocate.
Russell noted that the Charity worked with children in several ways and as such, were very involved in the campaign that fought childhood obesity.
“Our concern is that there is a cost to being healthy,” she said.
One of the ways that she believed could help counteract this cost is education. “When my clients come to me and say that they don’t have any money, I say well instead of going to a fast food place, buy oats, teach your children to eat oats, it is relatively inexpensive and it is filling, but children these days don’t want to eat those things so you have to educate them about eating healthy,” she said.
“It is not just enough to say that we are going to take stuff away from them, take away the soft drinks and sugary snacks, we have to give them alternative. The emphasis has to be on education and on parents teaching their children how to be healthy and to teach children to make the right choice. You can’t take away choice from people, you have to allow them to make their own choice.”
The Executive Director went on to proudly announce that the Charity was celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and in order to ensure that the Charity is able to operate for another 25 years, she is encouraging people to become a ‘friend of Variety’.
“All it takes is $5 a month or a $60 one time payment; and now you can do it through the Cave Shepherd app, but you can also do it through different mediums, you can call us, email us or go on our website and sign up,” she said.
“We would appreciate your help so much.”
She noted that she realised persons generally wanted to help but did not always have the funds and added that volunteers were also welcomed.