The ECC conducts “I want to Live Healthy” Drug awareness marches
Members of the Black Rock and Gazette Seventh-day Adventist churches in Barbados participate in the march through the streets of Barbados...
Reading time | 5 mins
Throughout the months of May and June the Health Ministries Department of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh Day Adventists conducted a series of drug marches across the two territories of its conference, Dominica and Barbados.
Health Ministries Director, Nurse Priscilla Prevost in her remarks on the initiative shared, “The aim of the program is to sensitize the communities in Barbados and Dominica on the effects of drugs and how young people and adults as well, can live healthy lives without the use of substances like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and crack cocaine. We educated them on healthy alternatives for dealing with stress and other triggers and encouraged them to live healthy lives without drug use.”
On May 21st in Barbados and 27th and 28th in Dominica, five major communities were directly impacted through these marches as churches and community uniformed groups and members marched through the streets with music, placards and chants about drug abuse prevention.
On Dominica in the village of Dulanc over 200 marchers had the opportunity to listen to Dr Keevian Burnette as he addressed the community on the harmful effects of drugs on the mind and the body. Image by ECC Media.
Personal Ministries leader and member of the Salisbury SDA church in Dominica, Necroix Barry described the experience as exhilarating and a reminder of the divine mission of the church, “As we marched through the communities of Salisbury and Dublanc I could feel the positive response of the people. It was a great reminder to them that Seventh-day Adventism is still alive and we need to ensure that we perform our God given mandate and go out into the communities.”
At every march, members of the Drug Prevention Unit, and other health professionals were invited to share and address the community. Drug Prevention officer Mr Malcom St Rose, in his remarks at the Central District March, applauded the church for its continuous contribution to health education in Dominica and encouraged the members to“ keep up the good work.”
On June 25th , the Blackrock and Grazettes Seventh Day churches in Barbados held a drug awareness march in their communities. The march was a joint venture between the and churches’ Health, Youth and Community Services and Personal Ministries Departments.
In the village of Mahaut villagers had the opportunity to listen to the drug prevention officer on Dominica, Malcolm St. Rose and former police officer Mr. Mathias Abraham They addressed the community of marchers on the harmful effects of drugs and on vehicular accidents and drug abuse. Image by ECC Media.
The first elder of Grazettes SDA Church Mr Orson Alleyne reflects on the march as the sowing of seeds of the gospel, “ the message of hope was shared with our communities, the seed has been planted and God’s message will not return unto him void.”
Pamela Payne- Wilson, Health Ministry leader of the BlackRock SDA church in Barbados also described the march as a success, “ The event was exceptional. It was a resounding success and I would recommend that it becomes an annual event. I am thankful to God for being with us and making it exceptional.”
The final two Drug Awareness marches are scheduled for July 23rd with the Grape Hall and Chance Hall SDA churches in Barbados and August 5th in the Eastern District in Dominica.
Credits
Members of the Black Rock and Gazette Seventh-day Adventist churches in Barbados participate in the march through the streets of Barbados...