The Grenada Food and Nutrition Council (GFNC) has officially launched its Enhancing Self-Monitoring and Nutrition Awareness for Hypertension Management Programme, a new initiative aimed at equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to better manage their blood pressure and adopt healthier lifestyles.

Funded by the Pump It Up! Initiative of Grenada Cooperative Bank Ltd., the programme reflects GFNC’s ongoing commitment to nutrition education and the management of non-communicable diseases.

Many individuals face challenges accessing blood pressure monitoring equipment. As a result, upon completion of the programme, participants will receive validated blood pressure monitors, a collection of healthy recipes, and logbooks to record their readings at home. Participants will also receive ongoing follow-up and support to help sustain positive lifestyle changes.

Hypertension or high blood pressure remains a major health challenge in Grenada. To address this, the programme combines nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, lifestyle modification, and blood pressure self-monitoring. Many individuals face challenges accessing blood pressure monitoring equipment. As a result, upon completion of the programme, participants will receive validated blood pressure monitors, a collection of healthy recipes and logbooks to track their readings at home. These resources will enable them to take a more active role in managing their health. Participants will also receive ongoing follow-up and support to help them sustain positive lifestyle changes.

The 4-week programme includes practical sessions on reducing sodium intake, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, managing portion sizes, and understanding nutrition labels.  The first session was successfully completed in St Patrick, with upcoming sessions scheduled for Petite Martinique, St Mark, and St John.

Supporting the HEARTS approach

The programme supports 2 of the six components of the HEARTS technical package:

• H (Healthy-lifestyle counselling)
• S (Systems for monitoring)

Through these components, participants are encouraged to make informed decisions about their diet, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviours, while also gaining practical tools to regularly track their blood pressure.

GFNC extends its gratitude to Grenada Cooperative Bank Ld., through its Pump it Up! Initiative and encourages all Grenadians to “know your numbers, understand your food choices, adopt healthy habits, and take charge of your health.”

To learn more about the GFNC, visit https://gfnc.gov.gd/about–us/ and follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/473GFNC.

GFNC

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