"NIP-IT-IN-THE-BUD" Child Health
Risk Screening Programme
and “LINK UP FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS: Priorities to Reverse a
Looming Health Crisis”
by Evelette Fourniller
Principal, San Fernando Seventh - day Adventist
Primary School
Trinidad and Tobago
On February 11th 2014, San
Fernando Seventh - day Adventist Primary School was invited by Dr Hedrick
Edwards of HANDS International Inc. to partner with the University of the Southern Caribbean
and HANDS INTERNATIONAL in a “community
– based effort to confront a chronic disease crisis looming in the nation
and posing a major threat to children and youth, as well as the adult
population. The Programme was captioned “LINK UP
FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS: Priorities to Reverse a Looming
Health Crisis”
Dr. Hedrick Edwards offered the Child Health Component,
"NIP-IT-IN-THE-BUD" Child Health
Risk Screening Programme to the school’s administration. The Administration enthusiastically
grasped “once in a lifetime” opportunity and the rapid planning began.
On the morning of Tuesday 8th April, 2014 a massive street parade through the
streets of the City of San Fernando
captured the attention of varied onlookers. The following schools participated
in the parade: San
Fernando
Girls’ Anglican, St
Paul’s
Boys’ Anglican, Point Fortin SDA, Erin SDA, WEE ONES Kindergarten and San Fernando SDA Primary. Several members of the
HANDS Team, the University of the
Southern Caribbean Drum Corp and several organizations such as the South Regional Pathfinder Club, San Fernando SDA Pathfinder Club, Girl’s Anglican
Brownies Club and the Red Cross Link
of San Fernando SDA blended a colourful spectrum marching through a slight
drizzle with the pulsating sounds of the USC band.
Students and parents had posters displaying pertinent
messages.
The parade was met by the Parliamentary Representative for
San Fernando West Constituency – the
Honourable Carolyn Seepersad – Bachan. An Opening Ceremony was held on the
spacious Compound of the St Paul’s Anglican School. The School
Supervisor of the Ministry of Education as well as Officials of USC and HANDS
International brought greetings and the Minister gave the Feature Address.
School Principals, Marlene White, Grace
Mc Quan and Evelette Fourniller also welcomed all present. Inspector Mystar from Police Head
Quarters also spoke to the large crowd on hand.
A fun, educational day began and many children and adults
visited over 50 exhibition booths as well
as fun activities such as rock climbing and
bouncy castles. The National
Schools Dietary Services which provides meals for the nation’s schools was also present. The National Institute of Higher Education,
Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) also featured a booth where
students explored a hands – on approach to learning about improving
lifestyles. Students from nearby Health
Institutions such as the University
of Trinidad and
Tobago and the University of the Southern Caribbean were also there to assist in
diverse ways. Three school compound were used to host the events.
The main feature of the day was the Health Screening
provided by the HANDS TEAM. The paediatricians
as well as all the doctors and other Health Professionals had their hands full
as over 400 children were screened. The event was well executed and remains
indelibly etched in the history
On Wednesday 9th
April, 2014, the USC and HANDS International Team travelled
southward again to have another day of screening and a Health Symposium during
the afternoon. The Paediatric Team visited the
Mothers’ Union Children’s Home and screened several children.
The Symposium was chaired by Dr. Oscar Ocho, Director of Population Unit and Chief Nursing Officer
at the Ministry of Health. The feature address was magnificently done Dr. Anjanie Sharma, Medical Research
Officer, Ministry of Health. Representatives from the University of the
Southern Caribbean, Dr Claudette
Mitchell as well as the members of the HANDS Team were on several panels
that addressed several health related issues to the audience which included
members from the Public Health
Department, San Fernando City Corporation, National Schools Dietary Services
and students from College of Science
Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTATT).
Ms Henrietta Vaval,
Nurse Instructor of COSTATT, provided valuable assistance from the conception
of this programme. She is working with the Ministry of Health to analyse the
data received from this programme. A follow up programme addressing the needs
of “at risk” students will begin in 2015. San
Fernando SDA Primary School has also included projects in its Strategic Plan to address the national concerns so that
our young citizens can “NIP IT IN THE BUD” . Parents can
be positively influenced by their children’s learning to begin a movement that
will help our citizens become healthier.
The Administration and Staff of
San Fernando SDA Primary School sincerely thank Dr, Edwards, and
his team for the dedication, commitment and the joy of service in helping
humanity.
* * *
Apr 11, 2014
NIP IT IN THE BUD
SYMPOSIUM
USC News
USC’s Link Up for Life:
Nip it in the Bud programme continued on April 9, with health checks and
screening at the San-Fernando SDA
Primary School. The afternoon
featured a dynamic symposium, attended by Government officials and
professionals in the health sector who spoke to the issue of lifestyle diseases
which plague our societies, especially our children, and how we can forge ahead
to ensure that the next generation is healthy.
Students from the San-Fernando SDA, the San-Fernando
Anglican and the St. Paul’s primary
schools who attended the fair were screened by volunteers from the HANDS
International team along with USC and
COSTATT student nurses.
Parents, together with their children witnessed nutrition
demonstrations sat through nutrition counselling sessions given by students and
staff of USC’s Family and Consumer Sciences
department. Students who were required to visit with a doctor were able to do
so.
The day’s screening also gave opportunity to more senior
individuals, who were in need of health screenings and consultation.
Mrs. Evelette Fornillier, Principal of the San-Fernando SDA
Primary School, and coordinator of the Nip it in the Bud programme expressed
her thanks to the two entities, the University of the Southern Caribbean and
the HANDS International team for being instrumental in planning and organising
a Health Emphasis week. She too was lauded for her hard work in ensuring that
the Nip it in the Bud Programme was successful.
The symposium, which featured a panel discussion among
scholars on the issue of obesity and diabetes among children made for healthy
discussion and discourse among leaders in the various fields.
In her presentation on obesity and diabetes, Dr. Annjani
Sharma, Research Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health made a memorable
point when she noted that, “Any time you
eat or drink, you are either feeding a disease or fighting it."
The Link Up for Life activities continue on Sabbath, April
12, with church services at the Caring
University Church,
and the Couva SDA
Church.
Nip it in the Bud Opening Ceremony
April 8, 2014
Health Screening
Nip it in the Bud Symposium
 |
| HANDS Partners together with representatives from the University of the Southern Caribbean, the two Anglican Boys and Girls and one SDA primary schools of San Fernando, the Mayor's Office of San Fernando, and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago |
