C. W. Sawyer Primary School Student and Old Bight High School Student Tie to Win Cardioman Essay Competition

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Kids will find that they may feel stressed from school, after-school activities, peer pressure, and family relationships. A busy schedule may lead them to skip breakfast, buy lunch from vending machines, and grab whatever is in the refrigerator for dinner when they get home. Healthy behaviors, like nutritious eating and regular physical activity, can help them to meet the challenges of life. In fact, healthy eating and regular exercise helps kids to feel energized, learn better, and stay alert in class. Eating healthfully means getting the right balance of nutrients the body needs to perform every day.

Recently, Doctors Hospital returned to the nation’s classrooms with their ‘heart healthy’ campaign, hoping to drive home the message of healthy eating to children in their formative years.  It is hoped that if they learn proper nutrition now, they will carry the healthy habits into their adult life.   Children who are not physically active and make poor nutritional choices are more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other potentially life-threatening diseases. 

The challenge of being heart healthy was sent out again this year by Doctors Hospital’s heart superhero, Cardio Man with a mass appeal to the children of all schools, including those in the family islands to write a letter, answering the question, “What can you do to take better care of your heart?” 

The goal of the essay competition was to instill in children the daily habits that include: eating a variety of healthy foods, at least five (5) servings of vegetables and fruits and avoid foods high in unhealthy fats; participating in at least one (1) hour of physical activity; and reducing time in front of television and video games; reducing stress; drinking plenty of water, and saying no to smoking and drugs as it leads to damage of the heart and blood vessels.  

The hospital was inundated with essays pouring in from Nassau and throughout the Family Islands. The essays showed that the children were quite knowledgeable about the subject and some had even done some research.  The decision for the judges was very difficult but out of the hundreds of essays received, two stood out among the judges in a tie for first place. 

Capturing first place was Kimberly Rodgers of C. W. Sawyer Primary School in Nassau and Brayman Nathan Dorsett of Old Bight High School in New Bight, Cat Island. Kimberley, who addressed her letter to her Uncle Errol, covered all of the points to keeping the heart healthy, added that “smoking is something you should not do, especially around children and she admonished that if anyone asks you, you should say, No!” 

Brayman, a twelve year old student, knew that the circumference of his waist is an indication for risk of heart disease.  Brayman pledged to do his part along with the professionals at Doctors Hospital to reduce the chances of developing heart disease, quoting the Hospital’s tag line at the conclusion of the Health Tips of the Day – aired on local radio stations and ZNS TV 13- “remember good health begins with you!”

These first place finishers received a cash prize of two hundred dollars ($200) each, a 1st place certificate with a matching certificate for their school.  Kimberley’s first place presentation was made during her school’s morning assembly in front of an excited school body.  Brayman’s mom however, received his prizes on his behalf, as he is in Cat Island getting ready for examinations.  The school who won the first place trophy for submitting the most essays went to San Salvador Primary School. 

According to Michele Rassin, Vice President of Operations responsible for the Essay Competition, “An increasing number of children are overweight, and if no intervention is made, 80% of them will stay overweight as adults which will lead to health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.  It is important that we get the message of healthy eating and exercise out to these children and hopefully mold their thinking so that when become adults healthy eating is second nature to them.”

A healthy eating plan includes fruits and vegetables, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts and whole grains.  In addition, a healthy diet is low in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars.  When consumed as part of a well-balanced and nutritious eating plan, fruits and vegetables can help keep you healthy.

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