Panel discussion

Organizers:

Date:

June 23, 2022

Time:

19:00 PM – 21:30 PM

Fee:

Free

Location:

Aula, University of Aruba

Striving for a Healthy Lifestyle

Description
The number one cause of death in Aruba is non-communicable diseases (Multisectoral National Plan, 2018). The death toll caused by NCDs around the world is 70%. The most common causes of death worldwide are cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes (NCD Alliance, 2022). The Multisectoral National Plan was created in 2018 to tackle the health challenges encountered in Aruba. A study has shown that there were increasing and alarming amounts of NCD cases on the island (Government of Aruba, 2022). NCDs can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Different health programs have been successfully organized by different organizations in collaboration throughout the years with amazing results. Nevertheless, an important part of adopting a healthy lifestyle is the mental and emotional aspect, which is often forgotten, leading to demotivation and sometimes the feeling of exclusion. Everybody knows at least one person at high risk or living and an NCD but this does not mean that enough attention is invested in the social and emotional aspects. Each individual has a role and responsibility to respect and support the health goals of others, safe in the knowledge that the person at the other end feels safe and upheld as they climb up to reach their goals.

Food for thought:
How do people with high risk or with a diagnosed NCD live? How do they experience
life, work, and daily activities? How does their condition impact their mental health? Do they feel accepted? How do people striving for a healthier lifestyle perceive life? Do we as a community genuinely support others’ health goals?

Register Here

Part 1 – Health Lifestyle Center Presentation

The Department of Public Health in Aruba (DVG) is responsible for preventing diseases in Aruba. DVG does this by focusing on health promotion, providing information from a micro to mezzo level, creating programs, and advice in policies for the prevention of diseases affecting the quality of health of the community. Nevertheless, it is by using the information and tools given by health officials and the DVG for the individual’s own social responsibility to make healthy choices and follow a healthy lifestyle regime. DVG is currently the chair of the Aruban NCD’s committee whose sole aim is to invest in research and implementation of different programs as stipulated by the National Prevention NCD’s plan for Aruba.

Part 2 – Storytelling with a panel

Two strong individuals tell their stories and personal experiences striving for a healthy lifestyle. Learn about how they navigated starting and continuing a daily routine to improve their health. Two professionals in the field will also be participating in the panel to share their experiences supporting  individuals in their health journey. Each panel member will share their personal experience, which will be followed by questions by the audience.

Panel members:
Eslaine Croes (she/her) –Marketeer, Powerlifter and Body Positivity Influencer
Eslaine is a Senior Marketeer at an international company and has held this position for the past 7 years. The first time that Eslaine felt like she did not fit into the typical mold was back when she lived in the Netherlands at the age of 7. This experience along with many others such as battling an eating disorder at the age of 14 has shaped her into the person she is today and these are some of the main reasons that she is very passionate about standing up when encountering bullying being it her own experience or helping others that are experiencing it. Not only has her studies in Business and her experience in Marketing played a pivotal role in her career, but it has also served the purpose of helping her inspire and empower other people to live their best lives as their best versions of themselves. Eslaine is an avid fan of weight lifting sports and fitness in general and practices powerlifting herself. She wants you to know that speaking up and standing up for yourself can change your experience and the world.

Richard Trimon (he/him) – Triathlon Enthusiast and Administration Officer at the Office of Student Affairs at the University of Aruba
Richard has struggled with his weight throughout his whole life. Like a yo-yo, the numbers on his scale went up and down. The death of his beloved mother in 2016, cast the fragility of life in sharp relief for Richard. He started using his free time to do exercise and reflect on life. Nowadays he has lost over 55 Kg and is mostly active in triathlons and running events in Aruba and abroad. He keeps himself motivated, sets realistic goals for himself, and surrounds himself with positive people who encourage him. He has already accomplished different goals such as half marathons, full marathons, middle distance triathlon (70.3), Ronde van Aruba (estafette, duo) to mention a few however he still has a lot on his bucket list. He believes that this active lifestyle can bring a healthy transformation in your life, not only for your physical fitness but also for your mental wellbeing.

Dahariana Evertsz (she/her) – Head of the Health Promotion Department
Dahariana is a SWD alumna of the University of Aruba. After her graduation, she pursued her WO in Health Psychology and Technology and her Masters in Community Development in the Netherlands. Upon returning back to Aruba she worked as the head of the Logistics coordinators in the Covid-19 Vaccination program at the Department of Public Health Aruba. This increased her interest to continue within Public Health and she was honored to receive the opportunity to become the Head of Health Promotion within the Department of Public Health of Aruba. Her choices of education and career have always been aimed to return and contribute to the Caribbean and mainly the Aruban context. Her objective  is to advocate, educate and empower the community of Aruba to a healthier lifestyle while creating independence for all individuals.

Iraida Thijsen (she/her) – Dietitian at IBISA
Iraida is a nutritionist and dietitian, and works as the head of the section ‘Health’ at the government department IBiSA (Instituto Biba Saludabel y Activo – Institute for aHealthy and Active Lifestyle). IBiSA  focuses mainly on physical activity, sports and healthy nutrition for the whole community, according to the national guide for a healthy lifestyle. She is a member of the core team for the implementation of the  program ‘Healthy Schools Aruba’.
After finishing her study at Hanze Hogeschool of Groningen, she worked as a cooking class assistant teacher and as a child nutritionist/dietitian at the Youth Health Section of the Department of Health for 12  years. She believes in the capacity of our community and especially our children to develop a healthy lifestyle if we all (individuals, professionals, government, and private sector) commit to educating, motivating, and building an environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Her favorite motto is: Make the healthy choice the easier choice.

Moderator:
Nadia Dresscher-Lambertus (she/her) – Educator, and PhD Candidate
Nadia is a sociologist, communication scientist, and (digital) media, scholar. She teaches at the ‘Social Work & Development’, and ‘Organization, Governance and Management’ programs at the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Aruba. She is also a PhD candidate at University of Amsterdam, at the ‘Amsterdam School of Cultural Analysis’ and ‘Digital Methods Initiative’. She loves to experiment with creative methodologies for the study of the experiences of Caribbean everyday lives. As a Caribbean feminist, her scholarship is committed to creativity, voicing, and interdisciplinarity as practices contributing  to liberation, and social and ecological justice.

Event Location

The main campus of the University of Aruba is centrally located in downtown Oranjestad and houses a number of Centers and Offices that promote academic growth, education, and research.

Our events are usually held at the main campus of the University of Aruba or online.

Consult the event invitation to confirm the correct location of where your event is being hosted.

Get notified of upcoming events

Notify me

Most Recent Events

View More

    Contact Us

    University of Aruba


    Phone: +297 526-2200
    info@ua.aw
    J. Irausquin Plein 4
    Oranjestad, Aruba