The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

WITH the aim to encourage healthy living in the Bahamas, the Salvation Army recently joined forces with several corporate partners to launch an official health and wellness programme.

The programme will be held free of charge for 15 weeks taking place every Wednesday at J-Line Fitness, Shirley Street, from 6pm to 8pm. Sessions officially kicked off on January 21 and the Salvation Army is inviting people to join in as health professionals share the tools, motivation and the way forward to a healthier lifestyle.

Participants are asked to choose any 15-week session or all three sessions from January 21- April 29, May 6 - August 12, and August 19 - November 25.

“We launched the health and wellness programme because it is always important and it is a good and fresh start for persons at the beginning of a new year,” said Melanese Coakley, Salvation Army community relations associate.

“We just came off the Christmas break, which is a very important part of the Salvation Army’s programme. During that time we have the annual community luncheon and activities. The Bell Ringers participated in bell ringing across New Providence so it was quite an active holiday as always. We are resuming back to normal, getting ready for our appreciation for the bell ringers. The feeding centre is feeding as usual, five days a week. All of the programmes are running as normal, but we just thought it was important not only to be feeding persons on a regular basis, but also encourage their healthy lifestyles, as healthy persons contribute to long life and productivity.”

The initial idea for the programme came from Salvation Army Women’s Ministries Director Major Beverley Ferguson, who came across an article written by Dr Duane Sands regarding noncommunicable chronic diseases and their effects on the Bahamas.

“After looking at the article and realising that these are issues that can be addressed here in the Bahamas, we decided to push the programme. We then became the recipient from the Salvation Army Switzerland territory, which helps to fund this programme. It is now a partnership between the Salvation Army, J-Line Fitness, Wholistic Lifestyle and NHC Nutrition,” said Ms Coakley.

At the Wednesday sessions, persons are offered free health screenings, health and wellness education on topics including nutrition, diet, diabetes, cholesterol management, blood pressure, natural remedies, breast feeding, information on the early stages of breast cancer, importance of massage, mental health and children’s health. Various health and professionals conduct each session.

The exercise component of the programme includes line dancing, Zumba, Salsa and more. Interested persons are invited to check out the website www.thesalvationarmybahamas.org where they can sign up via an application and registration form.

“We had about 45 persons come out the first Wednesday. During the first hour they did an information session based on their initial assessments and weigh-ins, just to get some basic statistics on where they are,” said Ms Coakley. “Once that is done, you get some health feedback from the participants in regards to what are some of their goals. At the end of each month there are food preparation demonstrations. It is definitely a programme that people have embraced.”

She believes this programme will be beneficial to Bahamians because it provides a comfortable environment.

“The response has been very good in terms of commitment. Persons are embracing the information and support of each other as well as concentrating on their health and wellness. We are still in our early stages, but we see it being quite successful because it is welcoming, comfortable and not overwhelming,” said Ms Coakley.