Health fair promotes safe living, partner testing during Love Safety Week

The second annual Love, Health, and Fitness Fair returned in all its flair at the Warren’s Office Complex on Friday, bringing together health and wellness services to the public in celebration of Love Safety Week.

The event, hosted by the National Wellbeing and HIV Commission, focused on promoting safe and healthy living as Barbadians celebrated Valentine’s Day, encouraging people to love responsibly.

The fair showcased several activities aimed at encouraging individuals to take charge of their health, including free massages, pedicures, manicures, facials and barbering services. There were also health screenings available, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, prostate and HIV testing, provided by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Cancer Society.

Other non-governmental organisations present were the National Disabilities Association, the Colon Cancer Association, the City of Bridgetown Credit Union, the Barbados Workers’ Union Cooperative Credit Union along with governmental agenciessuch as the Welfare Department and the One Family Programme.

This year the commission focused on theimportance of partner testing.

“This year, we are also encouraging partner testing. You and your partner go together and be tested to know your status,” the commission’s Public Relations Officer Fabian Todd told Barbados TODAY.

Todd revealed that this year saw several more partners attending the health fair: “We have over 40 this year. Last year it was less than that. I think it could have been in the range closer to 30.”

He shared that the fair’s added offerings included healthy snacks, natural juices and fitness sessions, which are aimed at making health a fun and accessible topic for everyone.

In addition to the health services, the event featured live entertainment in the afternoon, including performances from the top five finalists of the HIV Commission’s literary competition.

Project Officer of Management Information Systems for the One Family Programme, Dorian Best, highlighted the importance of family health awareness, especially concerning non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are increasing in Barbados.

“There’s a lot of things that are going on in terms of the health and the burden in the health sector,” Best said. “So not only in this event, but in general we’re looking to have the families be more cognisant of their personal health and the benefits of getting checks because even if you do have an NCD if it’s caught early on, it’s a lot more manageable than if you have it.”

Best noted the importance of families coming out to events like these that offer services they wouldn’t normally be able to afford: “It’s good to have the families come out and we also participate in events and things that are going on that target health.

It’s always difficult sometimes for persons who are vulnerable to come and access health services and participate in checks and stuff like that because I don’t know if there’s a stigma or anything associated with it to see persons coming out and be encouraged and come and participate and do things is very heartwarming actually.”

The Barbados Cancer Society also plays a crucial role in this initiative, offering free prostate cancer screenings to the first 60 men at the fair.
Administrative Director Shelly-Ann Forde explained that the Cancer Society consistently participates in events like these to raise awareness about the importance of cancer screenings.

“The last time we offered these screenings, the response was overwhelming, with over 60 men getting tested,” Forde said.

She pointed to the fear of needles as a significant barrier for many men, even though the process is quick and generally painless.

“We try to encourage men to overcome their fear and take advantage of these opportunities for their health,” she added. (LG)