Greetings from the Atlantic Caribbean UnionHealth Ministries Department. Congratulationsto the Health Ministries Department teams, reg-ular members and the Adventist HealthProfessional Association of South Bahamas forleading out in health initiatives during the year2017 thus far. I want to commend all who havemade contributions in many ways throughoutyour field. The Lord has been using you might-ily and will continue to do so as long as youcontinue to submit yourselves in service to himand to others. By being partners in health,your commitment and dedication in carrying

out the great commission of proclaiming thegospel of Christ Jesus through the health mes-sage, will make a difference in the choices oth-ers make.

Statistics produced by the World HealthOrganization, reveal continual rising inci-dence of non-communicable diseases, result-ing in unnecessary suffering and death.Families are losing their loved ones earlierthan expected. I want to encourage everyoneto embrace the training and programmes pro-vided by your local field, on a personal level

for effective transformation, physically, mental-ly and spiritually. Wholistic wellness is allabout the choices we make. Choose to behealthy because only then can we truly workon transforming our churches into centers ofinfluence. Then our communities will see themas places of health and healing which will cre-ate opportunities to meet the needs of thecommunity.

May God continue to use you mightily andmay you experience the joy that comes frombeing in his service.

Messages from...

Ms. Annie K. Price, RNHealth Ministries Director, Atalntic Caribbean Union of Seventh-day Adventists

I am grateful for this opportunity to publiclycommend the Health Ministries Departmentand the Adventist Health ProfessionalsAssociation of the South Bahamas Conferenceof Seventh-day Adventists for organizing their“First Annual Health Professionals AssociationWeek.” This ambitious program comes at atime when our society is plagued by so manyunhealthy practices. Therefore, I believe thebenefits of healthful living that will be high-lighted during the week could have a positiveinfluence on our community.

The theme chosen for the week, “I Choose toLive Healthy,” challenges those who are con-cerned about their health to be more discrimi-nating in how they live day by day. This meansthat they have to be very selective in the situa-tions and things to which they expose them-selves; for the quality of life we enjoy is deter-mined by the choices we make. Also, it hasbeen proven that many of the diseases thatplague our people and the peoples of theworld are related to the way we live. So if we

discipline ourselves and adopt a healthylifestyle, we can avoid many of the diseasesthat are common among us.

On behalf of the Atlantic Caribbean Union, Icongratulate the promoters of this healthemphasis week. It is my hope that the informa-tion shared during the week will have a posi-tive impact on the persons who participate inthe various activities that have been planned.Blessings!

President, Atlantic Caribbean Union of Seventh-day AdventistsDr. Leonard A. Johnson, D. Min., CMG, J.P.

Although it is God’s desire that we prosper andbe healthy, maintaining good health is notautomatic; for we live in an intemperate socie-ty that influences many to choose the path todestruction. Therefore, we have to be inten-tional in our effort to preserve an acceptablelevel of health. This means that we have tochoose to adopt a lifestyle that will foster andsupport optimal health. Such a lifestyle mustinclude adequate rest, proper exercise, ade-quate water, a balanced diet, and trust in theOne who created us and gave us the power of

choice.

Accordingly, it is my hope that this week ofactivities will encourage Bahamian citizensand residents to make informed choicesregarding their health. From what I am hear-ing, the week’s program is geared to make apositive impact on the total health of those whotake advantage of what will be offered.

Given this reality, on behalf of the SouthBahamas Conference of Seventh-day

Adventists, I am pleased to lend my support tothe organizers of this First Annual AdventistHealth Professionals Association (AHPA) Weekunder the theme, “I Choose to Live Healthy.”

Let us join in the spirit of the week and chooseto live healthy and happy.

Pastor Paul Scavella, M.DivPresident, South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

2

This year the Health Ministries Department ofthe South Bahamas Conference (SBC ) ofSeventh-day Adventist has given the mandateto the Adventist Health ProfessionalsAssociation (AHPA) to have a week of activi-ties with a view of heightening awareness ofwellness; (physically, emotionally and spiritual-ly) for church members and the wider commu-nity.

Currently in our country, we are bombardedwith challenges of non-communicable diseases(NCD’s) such as hypertension, cholesterol, dia-

betes, cancer and heart conditions. I amthankful that the association, under the capa-ble leadership of Miss Shandera Smith, hastaken up the challenge under the theme, “IChoose to Live Healthy.” The onus is now onyou as an individual to take charge of yourhealth through lifestyle changes. I encourageyou to pay keen attention to the informationand resources that will be shared and incorpo-rate them into your daily routine by makingsmall nuggets of change. I can guarantee youthat you will be happier and healthier!

Heartfelt thanks to the founders and pioneersof the association: Dr. Joseph Evans, Dr. KevinMoss, Dr. Alvira Higgs, Dr. Idamae Hanna,Pastor Paul Scavella, Dr. Monique Mitchell,and Mrs. Serkeitha Meadows who nourishedit, and raised it to be stronger day by day.Kudos to all the hard working committed mem-bers who have contributed over the years tobuilding a healthier nation.

My prayer for The Bahamas is that it will behealthier and happier as a result of this weekof health activities.

Mrs. Nathelyn LaCroix, MBA, PCT, LEHealth Ministries Director, South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Good health is such an invaluable gift!Without it, we cannot be all that God wants usto be. Just imagine being sick all the time ormaybe just occasionally. How happy or pro-ductive are you? Everyone, I believe, desires tobe well in all aspects of life - physically, emo-tionally, financially and spiritually.

Our country has the potential of achievingmuch better health than we currently experi-ence. While a small percentage of us may beprospering in good health, there are so manywho are sick and are dying because of poorhealth. We have to help each other, as it takesa collective effort to achieve good health. It

also takes a lot of personal discipline, effort,self-control, perhaps a few more dollars andlearning or re-learning how to care well foryour body. But I assure you that it is worth theeffort and every penny. Good health is aninvestment and it is priceless!!

The choices you make daily affect your health.Therefore, the Adventist Health ProfessionalsAssociation challenges you to choose to behealthy. Be intentional and deliberate in yourlifestyle practices. Choose to be active; chooseto make intelligent food choices; choose to getenough rest and sleep; choose to avoid sub-stances that can harm your health; choose to

get fresh air; choose to get some sunshinedaily; choose to be productive at work; chooseto trust in God. Set goals to improve yourlifestyle, and ask God to help you achievethem. After all, He desires that we be in goodhealth.

We hope that the information presented to youduring this week be of great benefit to you andthat you will integrate it into your lifestyle sothat you can experience a good quality of life.

May God bless your efforts.

Miss Shandera Smith, M.Sc., LDN, CCDE President, Adventist Health Professionals Association

PAST HEALTH MINISTRIES DIRECTORS OF SOUTH BAHAMAS CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

DR. IDAMAE HANNA PASTOR PAUL SCAVELLA PASTOR NEVILLE SCAVELLA DR. JOHN CAREY DR. ROBERT WILLIAMS

Photo not available

3

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AHPA

NATHELYN LACROIXHealth Ministries Dir. SBC

SHANDERA SMITHPresident

ROSEMARY COOPERVice President

PHILLIPPA ROLLESecretary

DR. RHONDA CARTERAsst. Secretary

MAUREEN LESBOTTTreasurer

DR. MONIQUE MITCHELLTraining & Education Officer

JESTINA KNOWLESPublic Relations

SERKEITHA MEADOWSImmediate Past President

PREATTA GIBBSChaplain

DR. ALPHEUS ALLICKPhysician Liason Officer

REBECCA JOHNSONNurse Liason Officer

DR. ALVIRA HIGGSSERKEITHA MEADOWS DR. MONIQUE MITCHELL DR. JOHN CARTER DR. JOSEPH EVANS

PAST PRESIDENTS

4

Adventist Health Professionals Association (AHPA) Wellness Awareness Week Campaign

September 17 – 24, 2017Theme:

“I Choose to Live Healthy”The Adventist Health Professionals Association is avibrant and growing body of excited and passionatepersons serving in many health disciplines both tradi-tional and non-traditional areas. It was formed since2001 with a team of persons including Dr. JosephEvans, Dr. Kevin Moss and Dr. Alvira Higgs. Convictedthat the Health Message is the right arm of the Gospel,we believe that we have a significant role in evangel-ism. We strongly believe that our body is the temple ofthe Lord, and we are on an endless mission to teachpeople how to care for and respect it, ultimately glorify-ing God. The Association has been actively involved inministry in the church and in the community.

The objectives of the Association are in harmony withthose of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and includethe following:

1. To foster and ensure a strong fraternal bond among all Seventh-day Adventist health care professionals worldwide and to encourage and strengthen an attitude of loyalty among them toward medical missionary endeavours.

2. To advance worldwide health evangelism through education, promotion, evaluation, research and financial support.

Being in optimal health should be a desire for every-one. After all, who likes to be sick? The journey toachieving good health is one filled with competing fac-tors; making time to be active, making healthy foodand beverage choices, getting sufficient rest and sleep,having nurturing and loving relationships. With somany competing factors, some of us cave and some ofus thrive. What makes the difference? You have to wantgood health badly enough; you have to be intentionalin your lifestyle choices. You have to make your healtha priority! What does this mean? It means making thechoice…choosing to be healthy. It involves becomingknowledgeable, creating a supportive environmentwhere making the healthy choice is making the easychoice, making the commitment and being intentionalabout it.

Good health is priceless. How much you choose to

invest in it is up to you…choose wisely!

The goal of the 1st Annual Adventist HealthProfessionals Association Wellness Awareness Week isto educate citizens and residents of The Bahamas tomake healthy lifestyle choices every day.

Our objectives are (1) to encourage the public toengage in healthy lifestyle practices that promote goodhealth; (2) to highlight and show the relationshipbetween lifestyle choices and health status/outcomesand (3) to increase awareness of AHPA Week.

Our Key Messages are:Message 1: I choose to drink enough water.Message 2: I choose to have a positive attitude.Message 3: I choose to eat vegetables daily.Message 4: I choose to be active every day.Message 5: I choose to get enough rest and sleep.Message 6: I choose not to eat foods that are not

good for me.Message 7: I choose to eat breakfast every day.

During this week and even beyond, we wish for you toparticipate in the following Challenges:

Sunday - I choose to be active today getting in 30 ormore minutes of physical activity/exercise.Monday - I choose to eat a salad at two meals today.Tuesday - I choose to drink water only as a beveragtoday.Wednesday - I choose to get 7 - 8 hours of sleep today.Thursday - I choose to be positive today.Friday - I choose to fast from non-nutritious foods andbeverages.Saturday - I choose to eat breakfast today.

It is the hope of the Adventist Health ProfessionalsAssociation that you choose to be healthy. Putting theseprinciples into practice is sure to put you and keep youon the road to achieving optimal health. Commit to aNEW START and see your health and your life trans-formed!

Shandera Smith

5

Is Unforgiveness Causing You To Be Sick?

The Merriam-Webster Dictonary defines the word for-give as “giving up resentment of, or claim of requital.”Whether you choose to forgive or not, will determineyour level of wellness; (physically, emotionally and spir-itually).

When someone hurts you, the natural tendency is toretaliate by cutting that person out of your life. Youexperience, resentment, anxiety, anger and revenge.You just want to inflict pain on that person. Some per-sons go as far to say, “I will never forgive him or her.”Most persons have experienced hurt by someone. For afemale, maybe her best friend might have walked intoher relationship and taken her boyfriend or husband.On the job, you might have been passed over for a well-deserved promotion. Your parenting discipline stylemight have been too harsh and your children grow uphating you. Or your spouse might have been unfaithfulto the marriage vows. There are many reasons personsharbor unforgiveness. However, do you know that thiscan lead to physical, emotional and spiritual illness?

Science has proven that there is a great correlationbetween unforgiveness and illnesses physically andemotionally. “There is an enormous physical burden tobeing hurt and disappointed,” says Karen Swartz,M.D., director of the Mood Disorders Adult ConsultationClinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Chronic angerputs you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results innumerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure andimmune response. Those changes, then, increase therisk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, amongother conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress lev-els, leading to improved health.

On a spiritual level. There are two types of forgiveness;God pardoning us of our sins and our obligation to for-give others. Our soul salvation depends on these acts.

After man sinned, God gave His only begotten Son,Jesus, to die so that we might be redeemed and haveeverlasting life. This gift is still available to us today.When we sin and ask for pardon from God, our sins areforgiven. However, there is a prerequisite to being for-given by God. We must forgive those who havewronged us. If we do not forgive others, God will notforgive us. It is stated in the Bible that when someonehurts us, we are obligated to forgive that person. “Forif you forgive other people when they sin against you,your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you donot forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive

your sins” (Matt. 6:14-15).

“To Jesus, forgiveness andphysical health were thesame thing, as is revealed inthe case of the paralytic.When He healed the sickman, the Lord said to him ,“Your sins are forgiven you”(Matthew 9:12). BernieSiegel, oncologist andauthor of the book Love,Medicine, and Miracles oneof his, tells the story of oneof his patients in whom cancer had spread throughalmost all of her body. She went to a place near themountains and a beautiful lake. There, surrounded bythat luxuriant natural beauty, she began to think aboutall the people who had offended her: her ex-husband,her father, a daughter, and so on. She began to write thenames of each one and when she finished, she stood infront of the paper and said, “I forgive everyone!”

She suddenly felt a vitality she had not felt in more thanone year. Before that moment , she had barely beenable to walk from the table to the refrigerator, but as thedays went by, she felt encouraged to leave the houseand walk. In time, she could even walk all the wayaround the lake. Then she called Dr. Siegel and askedhim to do new tests to see if she still had cancer. Whatdid the tests reveal? They revealed that the cancer hadcompletely disappeared!

Learning to forgive is a daily challenge that, thanks toGod, we do not have to face alone. Jesus promised Hisfollowers before He returned to Heaven, “Lo, I am withyou always, even to the end of the age (Matthew28:20). This is a promise that you and I can claim in theface of the great and small challenges of daily living.”(excerpt from the Magazine, Priorities. The HealingPower of Forgiveness pg. 14)

If you need assistance in healing of unforgiveness,please contact 341-4021 or 323-0610

Nathelyn LaCroix, Health Ministries Director, SBC.

Proprietor, Wholistic Lifestyle

8

GLAUCOMAThe Thief of Sight

Do you ever feel like you can only see what’s in front ofyou? When you turn your head to the side , does every-thing look blurry? You may have a condition of the eyecalled glaucoma.

What is it?According to Dr. Timothy Root, an ophthalmologist andauthor, glaucoma is a condition where the pressure inthe eye builds up to a very high level, because there isa problem with the production of aqueous humor. Thepressure in the eye, the intraocular pressure, should bebetween 10 and 21 mmHg when tested by an ophthal-mologist or optometrist during an eye exam.

Signs and Symptoms There are none. Glaucoma literally steals sight. The onlyway to know if you have it is to have an eye exam.Sometimes a person may notice that gradually he or shecannot see as clearly as before, but ignores it. Somepeople may also think that perhaps it is because of get-ting older. However, glaucoma is called the thief of sightbecause of these very reasons. The danger of a highintraocular pressure is that the optic nerve may becomedamaged. This very important nerve is the portion ofthe brain that helps us to see. If this nerve becomes dam-

aged, the individual becomesblind permanently.

Treatment for Glaucoma In the Bahamas, we havemany people with openangle glaucoma, and this istreated with various eyedrops which regulate theaqueous humor. If this fails, itmay indicate the need forsurgical intervention.

Having glaucoma is risky business, because a person’svision is very narrow which is called ‘tunnel vision’, anddriving especially at night is a scary, dangerous thing. Itmay take some time, but if it continues to go untreated,the person eventually becomes blind and has to adaptto a whole new way of living. Please safeguard yourvision; have an annual eye exam, because your eyesare your windows to the world.’

Serkeitha Meadows, RN

9

NATHELYN LACROIX - THERAPIST

EDITOR OF SUPPELEMENT: JOHN CAREY, PH.D

12