A Seventh-day Adventist church health ambassador team in New Britain New Ireland Mission has reached across Lihir Island with 10,000 Toes awareness and health checks for 430 people.
Four days of free health checks drew people from various religious backgrounds from all six wards of the island to the Putput government aid post and Londolovit beach, in front of the Lihir township from August 4–7.
As lifestyle diseases become more common in the area, due to mining communities bringing in Western diets, the Adventist ambassador team took the opportunity to improve health awareness and education, with the aim of helping all Lihir Islanders to care for their health and maintain a strong healthy community for better future tomorrow.
The program was organised by Lihir district 10,000 Toes coordinator Nerollyne Motenava and health coordinator Joan Laketan. Elder Conrad Stanis, who is the New Ireland provincial 10,000 Toes coordinator, also served on the health Ambassador team.
The ambassadors were involved in checking height, weight, blood pressure, sugar levels, Body Mass Index (BMI) and provided a counselling session on lifestyle modification.
Participants were very excited for the health check and thanked the Seventh-day Adventist ambassadors of Lihir District for providing the service.
“I am grateful for the initiative of the Adventist church, with the 10,000 Toes health checks in reaching the people of Lihir and of course the world,” said Martin Simol, a deputy chairman for the Lihir Mining land owners association. He also made an appeal inviting all the people in Lihir to do the health checks.
The New Ireland province health manager, Debbian Willie expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the leaders and individuals who contributed to the success of the program, which made a positive impact for the lives of the people on New Ireland. “I want to appreciate the Newmon company, Nimamar health administration, Aspen medical and community leaders for their support for the program,” she said.
She congratulated the Lihir district for undertaking this initiative.
“I am happy for the ambassadors, that even with the basic knowledge they have, they move forward—so we will continue to up skill them,” she said.
The 10,000 Toes health checks captured the attention of the local people who say they are looking forward to the next health check to be conducted.
