Cover Story
Palau Pushes 'PE for All'
Innovative Program Awards Prizes to Exercisers.
Everyone recognises that Palauans know how to enjoy their Rock Island leisure. But their love of sports and exercise doesn’t get the acknowledgement it deserves. Almost every weekend there is another sporting event in Palau. As this is being written the Belau National Games are taking place, but athletic accomplishment in Palau is not limited to the elite competitors. Just ask Singeru Ngiramolau and Markus Teliu.
In Palau, Vice President and Minister of Health Sandra Peirantozzi has initiated a public health program called the Vice-President’s Walk for Your Health. Karen Kohama of the VP’s office says the program was initiated after Pierantozzi traveled to Papua New Guinea and was impressed by the fitness and health of the women there.
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Initially, the project was conceived as a way of improving women’s health in Palau but it was expanded to include Palauans of both sexes and all ages. The intention of the program is to help people get started on their way to a better lifestyle involving changes to their diet and exercise regime.
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The Walk for Your Health began May 1st and continues until the end of November. At the beginning citizens were asked to register and were weighed and had their blood pressure measured. Every Monday the Ministry of Health sends technicians to the national track in Koror to check weight and blood pressure for all registrants. Every day, a representative from the Ministry is at the track to distribute raffle tickets, one for each lap completed by every participant. At the end of May, a raffle was held with prizes donated by local businesses.
Ngiramolau walked almost 100 miles in the first month, entitling him to a special prize for the most laps walked. Teliu was the top achiever in the weight loss category, and was also rewarded for his efforts. More prizes will be distributed in July, September and November. Over 350 Palauans have responded to the new program.
Dr. Steve Kuartei, chief of preventive services at Palau’s national hospital, says that health staff, while continuing to promote healthy eating, have shifted emphasis to pushing exercise as a way to counteract diabetes and a host of other non-communicable diseases. “Diet counselling is not effective,” he said, adding that what people eat “is such a part of the culture. We may be able to alter health more from the physical activity side.”
For exercise-conscious Palauans, there’s much to choose from. The canoe club continues to thrive, and having held a regatta in May and a kayak derby in June, is now preparing for the next world sprints. Meanwhile, runners have recently competed in the World Health Day 10K, the Olympic Day run, the Red Cross Walkathon, the Palau Community College Charter Day run, and the World No Tobacco Day 5K run and walk.
Koror has a thriving Hash House Harriers group that stages cross-country runs every other weekend, and locals enjoy spirited games of Ultimate Frisbee and touch rugby. If that is not enough, there are competitive baseball, basketball and volleyball leagues.
Why do they do it? Some say it is for all the free T-shirts that are given out at these events. But it is probably also due to the love of life here in the Rock Islands. That means enjoying good health as well as relaxing in paradise.
Photo: Floyd Takeuchi
