The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF)’s fitness trainer, Hency Charles, has encouraged women and girls to take good care of themselves by prioritising their health and wellbeing.

Charles is local contracted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to support the RSIPF & AFP Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP). 

His role in the RAPPP’s Health and Wellbeing Project is to support RSIPF officers to boost their fitness.

Charles and his colleague, Janet Gwai, provide fitness training and programs, and health tips for RSIPF officers, ensuring they maintain their health and fitness level for their policing duties. 

They also run the RSIPF Gym at Rove.

During the International Women’s Day event that was held in Honiara on March, Charles was given a chance to do a presentation about health.

In his presentation, he urged women and girls to invest in themselves by prioritising their health and wellbeing.

He said when women and girls are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy they are empowering themselves to live their lives fully, pursue their goals and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.

Charles said too often women put the needs of others before their own and as a result- their health and wellbeing suffer in silence. 

He reminded women and girls to prioritise themselves not out of selfishness but out of necessity and strength.

Charles said in the Solomon Islands, many women and girls face challenges like limited access to healthcare, cultural stigma around mental health, lack of education on nutrition and reproductive rights and social pressures that made self-care less important to them. 

He said women and girls who care less about themselves not only exposed themselves to negative health impacts but also their ability to thrive and lead.

Charles’ presentation covers many things including good health as the starting point for education, proper nutrition as an ingredient to empower women and girls to live an active, focused and balanced lives, physical activity as a way to boost energy, confidence and overall health, access to information and services that help women to make informed decisions about their bodies and future, sleeping as a critical part of recovery and supportive relationships to create safe spaces for growth and healing.

He said topics covered in his presentation are not only relevant but urgent as they encouraged women and girls to take ownership of their health, prioritise their wellbeing and recognise their value. 

He added that when women invest in themselves, they create a ripple effect that benefits their families, communities and nation.

In the RSIPF gym, Charles and Janet tailored training programs for female RSIPF officers, including physical activity, wellness talks, yoga and functional strength training.

Charles said health is not a luxury but a right that all women and girls deserve.

He added these are small steps that women and girls can take which have positive impacts on their overall health.