Pilot community gym opens at David Thompson Complex

A pilot community gym was officially launched at the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex in St John on Wednesday, marking a significant step in Barbados’ push to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through increased physical activity. If successful, the facility could be replicated across the island’s polyclinics.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health Davidson Ishmael said the gym represents an initial test of the concept.

“This is actually a pilot. We’re doing this as a first effort to really see how it will work within the polyclinic setting, but we’re not stopping here,” he explained. He highlighted the ministry’s earlier efforts, noting that “we would have relaunched the community gym within the psychiatric hospital and that gym is receiving significant usage, not only by members of the psychiatric hospital team but members of the general public as well.”

From a polyclinic perspective, the gym is the first of its kind, though it may pave the way for broader expansion, the minister said.

“We’re hoping that as long as all goes well and we’re able to ensure the systems are working well and we’re getting the community engagement, we’re getting the usage that we’re looking to see… we will be able to roll this out across other spaces where space allows,” Ishmael said.

He also underscored the financial support that will aid the ministry’s broader health infrastructure projects.

“We have actually received significant financial support from the Saudi funding agency (Saudi Fund for Development) that will help us to renovate all of our polyclinics and build two new polyclinics,” he shared, noting that the two facilities that are being built entirely will be the Eunice Gibson and the Randall Phillips polyclinics.

“If we have not done it yet, we will seek to include some physical exercise space as well within those establishments when they’re going to be done,” the minister added.

Addressing the wider health context, Ishmael stressed the urgency of combating NCDs.

“Eight out of ten persons die as a result of non-communicable diseases…. That is a mother, that is a son, an uncle, an aunt, an employee, a co-worker, a friend, a schoolmate,” he said. “And why I stress that is because non-communicable diseases are largely preventable. We’re talking about diabetes. We’re talking about cardiovascular disease. We’re talking about chronic respiratory illness. We’re talking about cancers. We’re talking about hypertension…. These illnesses are largely preventable and they’re largely generated because of lifestyle choices… physical inactivity… our use of certain substances like alcohol and tobacco. These are things that can actually cause the NCD pandemic in our country to become worse.”

He added that facilities like the new gym are essential in promoting healthier lifestyles.

“To address physical inactivity, we need to encourage our people to become physically active. And as I tell persons all the time, you do not necessarily have to wait for our gym to be open,” Ishmael said.

The gym, which coincides with the tenth anniversary of the David Thompson Complex, is open to national athletes and members of the wider community. While staff members may use the facility free of charge, others will pay a monthly rate of $45.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith said a focus on healthy living has long been a priority for the ministry.

“Healthy lifestyle is something that the minister [Ishmael] and [Chief Medical Officer] Dr [Kenneth] George and the team at the Ministry of Health has been pushing for ever. And for us now to have a facility here in St John at the David Thompson is a welcome addition,” he said.

During the opening ceremony both ministers joined healthcare workers and took part in physical challenges, including doing 60-second reps of push ups. (SZB)