Adventist Health at the South Pacific Division (SPD) is launching a new health course for the Pacific Islands called “HEAL” (Heal in Every Aspect of Life), which will roll-out across Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tonga on November 23.
The course is structured in three “clusters”: lifestyle medicine in the 21st century (cluster 1), optimum nutrition (cluster 2), and food safety, cooking demonstrations and how to run and present a program (cluster 3).
HEAL is designed as a self-learning package, or it can be run in groups through a facilitator.
“It takes them on a health journey with an overarching focus on giving them an appetite for personal health, and then to reach out to others in their communities,” explained 10,000 Toes coordinator Pam Townend.
HEAL is included as part of Level 1 in the 10,000 Toes Ambassador training program, which has been popularly undertaken by more than 2000 people in the past two months. The five-level program was introduced earlier this year to equip participants to combat diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
“It’s popular because people see the need for change and see that Ambassador training provides that opportunity,” said Mrs Townend. “The ambassadors are now thirsty to learn more, so the HEAL program has been designed to fulfil this desire and provide an entry level for future facilitators who wish to run CHIP, Live More Abundantly or other lifestyle intervention programs.”
To make the course accessible to as many people as possible, the SPD is subsidising the program to offer training at the equivalent in-country value of $A15. This money will stay in the country to further the work of 10,000 Toes.
To support the program and spread the message of good health across the Pacific, you can make a tax deductible donation to 10000toes.com or purchase a pair of socks via their shop, where 100 per cent of the profits go toward the project.
