Bermuda will join CARICOM nations in celebrating Caribbean Wellness Day 2009 on September 12.

The theme for this year is 'Love that Body'.

Government will run radio public service announcements and distribute leaflets promoting healthy living to get the message across.

And the Bermuda Heart Foundation will provide free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings at the Hamilton Post Office between 9 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.

Minister of Health Walter Roban said that the initiative came about because CARICOM was concerned "about the epidemic of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases and the physical, economic and social burdens caused by lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, obesity and cancer".

"The focus will be to provide health information to members of the public to increase awareness, understanding, and to encourage individual commitments to healthy lifestyle behaviours," he added.

Government will encourage residents to limit their use of caffeine and alcohol, and to exercise and eat well in the lead-in to Caribbean Wellness Day.