By Hazel Fletcher
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), junk food kills 11 million people annually. Additionally, 41 million people die every year from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
Recognizing the importance of educating people about NCDs, the Health Ministries Department of the Atlantic Caribbean Union (ATCU), under the leadership of the Health Ministries director, Mrs. Hazel Fletcher, continued its Health Promoters Certification program that gave information on NCDs and addressed topics such as Obesity, Critical Laboratory Values, Hydrotherapy, and Herbal Remedies.
Attendees participating in the level 2 program met twice a month for six months and were equipped with valuable tools to enable them to effectively promote health and well-being. They were also motivated to create a community for integral health so that every member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Atlantic Caribbean region can become a minister of health.
According to Mitzie Bailey from the Cayman Islands, the training was very beneficial.
“I found the training very impactful, informative, and healthful,” said Bailey. “Each presentation was riveting and encouraging and propelled the participants forward to positive change in many aspects of our lives. We reaffirmed our commitment to go and do our part to help to transform others through living Godly and healthful lives.”
The 6-month-long training commenced on Sunday, February 25, 2024, with approximately 75 participants from The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands meeting on the Zoom platform. Presenters along with their topics included Ms. Imterniza McCartney (What are Non-Communicable Diseases), Dr. Hortense Smith (Cardiovascular Diseases), Dr. Chris Lobban Wedderburn (Cancer), Dr. Douglas Street (Chronic Respiratory Diseases), Mrs. Hazel Fletcher (Diabetes), Mrs. Sashoy Duncan (Critical Laboratory Values), Dr. Obinna Eleweaya (Obesity), Mr. Cecil Gordon (Hydrotherapy), and Mrs. Rosemarie Bailey (Healing Diseases Naturally – Herbal Remedies)
Throughout the months of training, relevant and relatable scriptures were shared which both challenged and inspired the participants to modify their lifestyle and be obedient to the commands and statues of God by putting their trust in Him and changing their attitude to one of gratitude.
A grand hybrid graduation was held on Sunday, July 21, 2024, with 62 proud graduates from across the ATCU territory receiving their Health Promoters Level 2 Certification. During the ceremony, congratulatory messages were given by Pastor Peter Kerr, ATCU president, and by Pastor Kenny Deveaux, president, South Bahamas Conference; Pastor Roy Lindsay, executive secretary, Turks and Caicos Islands Conference; and Pastor Ivor Harry, president, Cayman Islands Conference. The evening’s proceedings were chaired by Mrs. Carolee Webb. The keynote speaker was Dr. Franck Geneus, Health Ministries director of the Inter-American Division, who very clearly put forth the compelling challenge to the graduates to “Go and share the knowledge learned.”
With a membership of 27,694, ATCU, which is headquartered in Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas, comprises four fields, namely, the Cayman Islands Conference, the North Bahamas Conference, the South Bahamas Conference, and the Turks and Caicos Islands Conference. In addition, Northern Caribbean University, which is in Mandeville, Jamaica, is jointly owned and operated by ATCU and the Jamaica Union.