Health fair widens

English-trained reflexologist Oliver Brewster massaging the toes of Carla Murray.

Mon, September 27, 2010 - 12:00 AM

THE Seventh-Day Adventist Churches are so committed to their health education awareness drive, that there are proposing to include the entire northern stretch.

Yesterday, the North Western District held its annual health fair on the Speightstown Playing Field in St Peter, highlighting stalls on areas like dentistry, heart and stroke, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, reflexology and nutrition.

The event embodies the St Peter churches from Mile-And-A-Quarter, Black Bess and Speightstown, and according to coordinator David Murray, consideration is being given to include St Lucy which would be the district comprising Checker Hall and Grape Hall.

“It would be nice to expand the event to include the entire northern zone. That is being looked at for next year. There is plenty of scope for a programme such as this.

“The focus is to continue to push health because we need to be more preventative as opposed to waiting for something to happen. We can’t afford to lose the race.

“Getting attitudes changed is key. We have to make people aware and that is the reason for the health fair,” he added.

This was the fourth year for the fair but for the first time, organisers moved away from the church premises. Murray said this was part of the churches’ community outreach.

Barbadians got blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks from the Heart & Stroke Foundation, tips from dentist Michelle Codrington, screening from the mobile breast health clinic and stress relief therapy from English-trained reflexologist Oliver Brewster.

Brewster, whose healing touch reflexology is designed to relieve migraines, back pain and stress, said he was pleased to be associated with the event.

Retired pastor Everett Howell told the DAILY NATION the Adventist churches understood the importance of health education.

“Health fairs like these are important. One’s health is critical. When we lose it, we lose the joy of living.” (MK)