Churches team up to promote healthy lifestyle in Manchester

MORE THAN 150 residents of Royal Flats and adjoining communities benefited from a health fair at the community's playing field in Manchester yesterday.

The initiative was organised by the family and health ministries departments of the Royal Flats Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Good Tidings Gospel Hall.

Doreen Grant, a member of the family ministries team, said the venture was spurred by an informal survey done in the community which identified family life and health needs.

"We want to help the communities because we realise there are a lot of teenage pregnancies, crime and sexually transmitted diseases," said Grant.

Promoting family values

"As a church, we believe in family values, and so we have put in place the relevant activities to assist the residents. Apart from the usual free blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar, urine and eye tests, we also have free HIV/AIDS testing and counselling. If the various tests are positive, individuals are referred to the doctors who will then take it to the next stage so that they are not just left diagnosed, but are treated and counselled."

The initiative also included presentations on parenting, drug abuse and career planning and counselling.

"This is a community that we worship and live in, so we are presenting the young people with options so that they realise that there is something better out there other than drugs, crime and having babies," Grant added.

The outreach was made possible by volunteer doctors and nurses, with Vision Care Ltd assisting with eye tests.

"I think it is a good venture. I like it. We need to have more of it," said Delceta Dennis, a resident of Royal Flats. "I have been communicating with other people who have benefited and they appreciated it. For me, my blood pressure is a little high and I didn't know. I am advised to exercise and take my current prescription so that I retain a balanced level."