EHF's 8th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion A Success!

EHF's 8th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion, which was staged on April 23-25, 2012, was a tremendous success!

Day 1 - Launch

The 2012 Promotion, under the theme: "Well Jamaica at Fifty", was launched on Monday, April 23rd at the Jamaica Observer’s Monday Exchange. EHF's Project Manager, Ms. Latoya Aquart (representative of EHF's Executive Chairman, Dr. Henry Lowe), was joined by Dr. Tamu Davidson, Medical Epidemiologist, Chronic Diseases & Injuries Prevention at the Ministry of Health and Mr. Hugh Lawson, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Fund, for a discussion on placing the matter of wellness on the national agenda through private/public sector collaboration. The discussions gained front-page feature in the Jamaica Observer of April 24, 2012.

Above: (L-R) Mr. Hugh Lawson - CEO, National Health Fund; Ms. Latoya Aquart - Project Manager, EHF, and Dr. Tamu Davidson - Medical Epidemiologist, Chronic Diseases & Injuries Prevention, Ministry of Health, at Jamaica Observer's Monday Exchange

Day 2 - Grand Wellness & Lifestyle Awards Ceremony & Dinner

The Promotion continued on Tuesday, April 24th with the staging of the 8th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Award Ceremony & Dinner. Hosted by the charming Fae Ellington, this event forms an important part of our annual promotion, as it honours organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to wellness in Jamaica.

The programme opened with Dr. Henry Lowe giving remarks on EHF and its mission. He highlighted the many projects and programmes spearheaded and supported by EHF throughout the years. Dr. Lowe's presentation was followed by remarks from Dr. Tamu Davidson, on behalf of the Ministry of Health; Mr. Hugh Lawson, on behalf of the National Health Fund, and Mrs. Beverley Manley Duncan, Gender Specialist, Political Scientist, Author and Past Awardee.

Above: Ms. Fae Ellington, OD - Lecturer, Caribbean Institute of Media & COmmunication, graciously chairing the evening's proceedings

Above: Dr. Henry Lowe - Executive Chairman, EHF

Professor Errol Morrison, OJ, Director of the University Diabetes Outreach Programme (UDOP) and President of the University of Technology Jamaica (UTech), then delivered a powerful and inspiring keynote address, placing an emphasis on the importance of social wellness.

Above: Professor the Honourable Errol Morrison - Director, University Diabetes Outreach Programme (UDOP) , President, University of Technology Jamaica (UTech), delivering the keynote address

Following Prof. Morrison's address were: entertainment by The Tivoli Dancers; a synopsis of the background of EHF's Wellness & Lifestyle Awards, presented by EHF's CEO, Ms. Novlet Green; and then reading of the citations and presentation of the awards.

Above: Tivoli Dancers during their exhilarating performance

The 2012 Award Recipients were:

Ms. Sonita Abrahams, who snagged the award in the Individual category for her work with RISE Life Management, an organization that offers remedial education, life skills/management training, vocational skills training, adult lifelong learning, counseling, drug testing, and parenting skills training services for at-risk populations in inner city communities;

Above: (L-R) Mr. Edward Bailey - Director, EHF presents Ms. Sonita Abrahams with her award

Jamaica National Building Society, the recipient of the award in the Industry & Service Provider category, for its design and implementation a wellness programme which undertakes targeted interventions to improve its employees' health and fitness positively; impact financial wellness; boost employee morale; increase productivity in the workplace, and reduce health costs borne by both employees and the company;

Above: Ms. Novlet Green (L), Director and CEO of EHF, presents the General Manager of Jamaica National Building Society, Mr. Earl Jarrett (R) and Maximilian Campbell, Executive/Human Resource Development of Jamaica National, with the award for excellence in the Industry & Service Provider category. 

Diabetes Association of Jamaica, the recipient of the Lifestyle, Education & Development category, who was recognized for providing diabetes related services at minimal cost to the public, as well as building awareness on diabetes at the community level;

Above: Mr. Edward Bailey (L), Director of EHF presents Mr. Owen Bernard, Executive Director in charge of Outreach at the Diabetes Association of Jamaica, with the award for excellence in the Lifestyle, Education & Development category

Prof. Peter Figueroa, who received the award in the "Regional/International" category for his globally-impacting work on HIV/AIDS, vaccine preventable diseases and public health.

Above: Mr. Edward Bailey - Director of EHF, presenting Dr. Figueroa with the award in the Regional/International category. Dr. Figueroa was accepting the award on behalf of her husband, Prof. Peter Figueroa

After the presentation of awards, EHF's Deputy Chairman, Dr. Herbert Lowe, unveiled EHF's 20th Anniversary Commemoration Plaque, which featured all the past and present Wellness & Lifestyle Award Recipients.

Above: Dr. Herbert Lowe unveiling EHF's 20th Anniversary Commemoration Plaque

The evening closed with exciting giveaways, prizes and surprises, including smart phones, gym memberships and spa treatments, courtesy of our generous sponsors.

Above: Ms. Novlet Green - Director and CEO of EHF presenting a lucky winner with an Iphone smart phone courtesy of LIME

Day 3 - Schools Wellness Seminar and Parent Nutrition Workshop

The final day of the Promotion, April 25th, involved the staging of a Schools Wellness Seminar for high school students, and a Nutrition Workshop for parents of young children. The Schools Wellness Seminar got off to a fantastic start when Mrs. Dorrset Gabbidon-Pottinger, Acting Assistant Registrar, Student Services and Career and Placement Officer at UTech, facilitated a dynamic and informative presentation on the topic: "Mastering the Art of Studying."

Above: Ms. Latoya Aquart (R) - Project Manager, EHF, welcoming the students to the seminar

Above: Mrs. Dorset Gabbidon-Pottinger, Acting Assistant Registrar, Student Services and Career and Placement Officer at UTech delivering her presentation on "Mastering the Art of Studying"

This was followed by an equally inspiring presentation by Dr. Perceval Bahado-Singh, Board Member of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) and Technical Director of the Bio-Tech R&D Institute Limited, who delivered a presentation on "Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle at School". The students, who were from various high schools across Jamaica, were enthralled by both presentations and marveled at how much they've learnt from them.

Above: Dr. Perceval Bahado-Singh, Board Member of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), Technical Director of the Bio-Tech R&D Institute presenting on " Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle at School"

Above: Students very engaged during the question and answer session of the presentation delivered by Dr. Perceval Bahado-Singh

The Nutrition Workshop, which was facilitated by Nestlé Jamaica Limited, followed the Seminar, and fully energized its participants. Nestlé's Market Nutritionist, Mrs. Krishta-Gay Lewis-Harewood along her assistants, educated their audience on critical topics, including serving sizes and healthy, low cost meal options. They also taught the audience how to read food labels. After the presentation, Ms. Shelly-Ann Castello, assistant culinary specialist at Nestlé, facilitated a meal-demonstration segment, by preparing a delicious one-pot meal, much to the delight of the audience, who managed to devour every bit of it.

Above: Mrs. Krishta-Gay Lewis-Harewood, Nestle's Market Nutritionist, presenting a Nestle gift bag to a child of the Allman Town Infant School at the Nutrition Workshop

Above: Ms. Shelly-Ann Castello, Nestle's Assistant Culinary Specialist and her colleague demonstrate the preparation of a delicious, healthy and cost-effective one-pot meal

Evaluations conducted revealed that over 90% of the participants found the Seminar and Workshop enlightening and helpful toward empowering them to lead healthier, more positive lifestyles.

EHF's 8th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion was sponsored by: CVM TV, Jamaica National Building Society, National Health Fund, JMMB, Spartan Health Club, LIME, Mayberry Investments, Digicel, Nestle Jamaica, Caribbean Broilers, Hylton's Limited, Pelican Publishers Limited, Fit Farm Fitness Club, Nirvana Day Spa, and The Grog Shoppe Restaurant.

As EHF closes the curtain on its 8th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion, we invite you – our fellow Jamaicans - to join us in our efforts of not only promoting but living healthy, positive lifestyles.