The 10,000 Toes Campaign has launched in the Samoa and Tokelau Mission (STM) with the aim of combating the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region.
Late last month 151 participants from 48 churches across the STM Upolu region attended training at the Lalovaea youth hall in the Adventist church headquarters.
The two-day workshop, organised by Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM) health coordinator George Kwong and STM health director Afamasaga Ben Tofilau, focused on educating church members in each church’s health ministry about healthy eating and NCD prevention strategies. Participants also learned how to use a health kit to monitor and identify community members who are at low, medium or high risk of NCDs; to provide counselling on prevention; and advise people to see a doctor for treatment if they are at high risk.
Mr Kwong, also the 10,000 Toes regional ambassador, initiated the event and ran health training seminars, concluding with each church receiving a free health kit containing equipment for health screening.
STM secretary Pastor Neru Nuuialii said he was grateful to the South Pacific Division and TPUM for initiating the event and the 10,000 Toes Campaign. He described it as an eye-opener and a powerful tool to expand the gospel message in the islands of Samoa.
“NCDs are silent killers, and our people are dying daily without knowing the severe impact on their health and the decline of their full capacity to perform and strengthen their faith,” he said.
The launch of the 10,000 Toes Campaign marks a significant step in the STM’s efforts to combat NCDs and promote healthy living in the region.
