Health

Armed with the mission statement: "Following the example of Jesus, I promise to be kind and merciful to all in need, so that the name of Jesus may be glorified in the community", the Community Services Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church converged on Island Harbour on Sunday, 8th January to be of service to its residents and commuters through the area. A team of nurses checked blood pressure, did blood sugar readings and body mass index measurements, while Health & Temperance Leaders and volunteers of the church dispensed advice on healthy lifestyle practices for optimal health.

The West Parry Sound Health Centre, located in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, in co-operation with the Rotary Club of Parry Sound, is pleased to donate five defibrillators to the island of Anguilla through the Rotary Club of Anguilla.

As part of its sponsorship of cancer awareness, the National Bank of Anguilla gave its support to a health promotion fair on the grounds of its West End Branch on Friday, November 25.

Some 25 members of the Risk Management Teams of the Island Harbour and East End communities, and teachers of the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School, were recipients of Red Cross Certificates in Basic First Aid Training on Tuesday this week.

It is now five years since the Anguilla Community Action Network (ACAN) Foundationjoined in the fight against HIV/AIDS as a support group. Over that period it has become a strong ally of the National Aids Programme and has world-wide registration.

Three persons left Anguilla on Thursday this week for The Bahamas to attend the first Caribbean HIV/AIDS conference of its kind. It will be held from Saturday November 18 to Monday 21.

The Anguilla Diabetes Association joined in observing World Diabetes Day on Monday evening, November 14, with a walk and run around the lighted perimeter of the Ronald Webster Park.

One of the difficulties facing the Health Authority of Anguilla is the growing debt owed to the organisation, by members of the public, for health care services. In order to recover some of the outstanding money, a current amnesty period, up to December 31, has been granted to debtors, and a 10% discount is being offered to all who can make full payment by that date.

Health, tourism and education personnel, meeting at the Teachers’ Resource Centre in Anguilla on Monday, November 7, reviewed the four year-old HIV/AIDS project funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).

The Health Authority of Anguilla has held what was considered a long-delayed performance review which Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Franklin Lloyd, described as having been both timely and necessary.

A number of amputees in Anguilla are receiving much-needed assistance with the replacement of fully-functioning legs, thus preventing the need for wheelchairs.

Anguilla’s Minister of Social Development, Edison Baird, has made the point that active and healthy ageing is a key element for the social and economic development of Anguilla and Anguillians.

As part of a week of activities, in observance of its 40th Anniversary, LIME Anguilla (formerly Cable and Wireless) has donated US$5,000 to the Princess Alexandra Hospital to finance the cost of four of a number of diagnostic machines needed at the health institution.

Over 300 persons thronged the parking lot of the C&N Jumbo Plaza, at the junction to the North Road on Thursday, 13th October, to participate in the first ever Breast Cancer Awareness Walk of Hope. Dubbed one of the largest walk-a-thons on Anguilla, under the theme, “Cancer is Everybody’s Business – Early Detection is the Best Protection,” young and old from all walks of life donned the pink and white awareness T-Shirts to show support for the survivors and victims of Breast Cancer.

Some 35 youth and adult persons, drawn from various parts of Anguilla, have received certification as Peer Educators at a recently-concluded sensitization workshop on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).

The Cancer Awareness Steering Committee in Anguilla, with the support of Digicel, is observing October as Cancer Awareness Month, with the slogan being “Think Pink – Make a Difference.”

The Department of Environmental Protection held its Vector Awareness Opening Ceremony and Open Day on Monday this week, October 3, on the grounds of the Environmental Health Unit.

The Health Authority of Anguilla is the recipient of a supply of state-of-the-art equipment for distribution to persons suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure and needing assistance to monitor themselves.

As part of its ongoing Health and Wellness Programme, Cap Juluca is this month partnering with the national Cancer Awareness Steering Committee (CASC) to raise awareness on Breast Cancer. Under the theme: “Cancer is Everybody’s Business - Early Detection is the Best Protection”, the Resort Health and Wellness Committee has planned a wide range of educational activities for October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Senior Health Educator, with the Health Promotion Unit of Anguilla, and some of her colleagues, expressed surprise at the large turnout of persons for testing on Caribbean Wellness Day, on September 9.