-underscores importance of ‘unifying’ events that focus on our holistic well-being

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday pledged a $2 million donation to the Guyana Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) health fair and business expo.

The Head of State made the announcement at the opening ceremony of the health fair held at the Sophia Exhibition Centre and while addressing the mammoth gathering of religious leaders and patrons, he highlighted the importance of hosting unifying events with a focus on prioritising the body’s well-being, including physical, mental, and spiritual health.

“I want to extend our services to the church because I believe that your work is evidence of the type of environment we want to create in service to people,” President Ali said.

The church, he noted, creates a link to the community as religious bodies hold the responsibility of fostering and promoting a connection between health and wellness.

“What I can say without a shadow of a doubt, [is] this is a movement of compassion, love and humanity,” he said.

The President further highlighted the church’s responsibility to address mental health issues through counselling, pastoral care, and community support.

The SDA church he said, has consistently fulfilled the mandate of service to people and communities.

“This facility is open to everyone. Make use of the facility; feel welcome. The Seventh-Day Adventists is an extraordinary group of people who make you feel welcome. I feel welcome every time I come here…”

In addition to the $2 million donation, President Ali announced that the government through the ministry of health will coordinate with the organisers to facilitate surgeries for cataracts, eyewear distribution and to ensure that young girls and women are scanned for cervical cancer.

The Seventh-Day Adventists church community is a large and growing organisation consisting of thirteen (13) Divisions, which are composed of churches grouped into unions, conferences, fields, missions or regions.

Additionally, the Adventist denomination promotes education at all levels, from elementary and high schools.

While the history of Adventism in Guyana dates back to as early as 1883, by 1973 the SDA church had been operating in 11 elementary schools, four of them state-aided, and one secondary school under a mission status.

In 1974, a committee appointed by the Caribbean Union Conference recommended that the then SDA Guyana Mission should be reverted to a conference on merit.

The church community throughout the decades have held many evangelistic outreaches offering health, education, and mental health services to communities across the country and region.