A week of activities will mark the annual World Health Day, which was on Monday, and Public Health Week which continues until Friday.

April 7 is celebrated as World Health Day annually to mark the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the theme this year is 'Protecting Health from Climate Change'.

In order to draw attention to the problem of human activity related to urban development, transport, energy use, food production and consumption, Friday will be the first "Burn Fat not Fuel" Day.

The day will be hosted by the Department of Health, which has encouraged the public to leave their cars at home and to walk, run or bike into work to save on fossil fuels.

Buses and ferries will also be free that day.

Banking insitution, Capital G and pledged to join the initiative.

A Capital G spokesperson said: "Currently more than two dozen employees of both Capital G and Gibbons Company will be walking, running and cycling into work on Friday. Capital G is committed to preserving the world's natural resources, in particular those immediately available to us here in Bermuda."

Also supporting the initiative is Head of the Civil Service, Major Kenneth Dill who said: "On Friday, April 11, I will be walking to work from Southampton and catching the free bus home at the end of the day. On April 11, I have challenged each and every Civil Servant to take advantage of the free public transport so we can all Burn Fat, Not Fuel."

Before the Island takes to the streets, however, the public will be helped by screenings and other health information at the Argus Health Fair today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The day will be held in partnership with the Bermuda Hospital's Board (BHB) and the Health Department. On Thursday, individuals or organisations which have contributed to protecting Bermuda's public health from the effects of climate change will be honoured at the 2008 Public Health Awards, through the Department of Health.

Finally on Friday the public is encouraged to put their sneakers on to cycle, walk or run to work or take the free transportation in order to Burn Fat not Fuel.

The Government has invited everyone in Bermuda to support the global effort to "protect health from climate change", by burning calories and body fat, rather than fossil fuels.

For more information go to www.health.gov.bm or call the Health Promotion Office on 278-6504, or email us on healthpromotion@gov.bm.