Public educated on importance of taking care of their health |27 March 2014

A one-day health expo was held yesterday with the aim of educating members of the public on the importance of taking care of their health.

The expo, held on the Camion Hall grounds, was jointly organised by Senpa (Small Enterprise Promotion Agency), Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church and the Ministry of Health.

The SDA said they do not focus only on people’s spiritual side but also on the physical side.

“Every country we go to, everywhere we work people have got their own health-related problems. One of the problems here in Seychelles is that people do not eat breakfast,” said Freddy Cavé, health consultant at the SDA Church.

He also made reference to a table set at the expo with special food which he described as a meal on its own for very early in the morning as breakfast is one of the most important meals.

Mr Cavé said that the SDA is the only church in Seychelles that organises this health expo which is to inform the public about their health, as with information comes knowledge.

They also check the blood pressure and do glucose check on members of the public.

“It is a community-related issue so whenever we have a health expo we try to involve as many people from the public and from the health sector to come and actually help us and support us in the work. The Ministry of Health provides some services while we provide others,” said Mr Cavé.

The main activities at the health expo were HIV testing, counselling, blood sugar testing.

The occupational and environmental health had a stand under the topic “learn how to keep your home and business clean” while the fire department was also there with tips on preventing and stopping fire in your home or business.

Also there was the Standards and Enforcement Section of the Ministry of Environment and Energy whose main duties is patrolling the town areas and districts to ensure there is no littering in public places.

Gym Roll, a local gym company based in Victoria and at the University of Seychelles at Anse Royale, was also there showing their slimming work-outs on a a screen. The gym makes its own equipment from local material.

A counselling stand was displaying natural remedies for lifestyle diseases. Basically it was advising people to pay attention to what they eat, have plenty of exercise, drink water, go out in the sunlight, do not smoke, keep doors and windows open for good ventilation, and have plenty of rest.