Checking health in Honiara. (Credit: Solomon Islands Seventh-day Adventist Church)
Health expo brings hope and healing
Hundreds of people gathered at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands, last week (May 11-16) for a major health expo that combined practical healthcare with a message of hope and healing for the community.
Organised with the support of local Adventists, health workers and ambassadors for the 10,000 Toes Campaign*, the event provided free health screenings, medical advice and health education in response to the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Solomons.
Throughout the expo, community members accessed a wide range of free services including blood pressure and blood sugar testing, dental check-ups and treatment, eye examinations and free glasses, physiotherapy for bones and joints, counselling and prayer, and lifestyle awareness education.
The event aimed not only to provide healthcare support, but also to encourage healthier lifestyles physically, mentally and spiritually.
According to Travis Ronnie, associate communication director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Solomon Islands, the expo received a strong response from the community.
“The health expo went really well overall and had a positive response from the community,” he said. “There was strong attendance throughout the event with many people engaging in the health checks, information sessions and community activities that were offered.”
Mr Ronnie said one of the key outcomes was encouraging greater community understanding of the importance of early health intervention.
“One of the biggest impacts was the opportunity to raise awareness around preventative healthcare and healthy lifestyle choices,” he said. “It also created a space for people to ask questions, access basic health services, and connect with local health workers and organisations.”
Mr Ronnie added that the expo has sparked growing interest in health education and community support programs.
“We’ve seen encouraging community interest following the expo, particularly around ongoing health education and support initiatives,” he said. “It was also a valuable opportunity for collaboration between different groups working in health and community development here in the Solomons.”
* The 10,000 Toes Campaign is an initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church aimed at addressing the epidemic of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in the South Pacific.
