‘Health remains the richest asset of mankind’ - MOH and Rastafari Council host Health Conference

Source: Guyana Chronicle, 10th March 2008

“Knowledge is the health of the flesh, but ignorance is the sickness thereof,” is the theme under which the Ministry of Health and the Guyana Rastafari Council (GRC) yesterday hosted a Health Conference to discuss a range of health issues, primarily HIV, at the Splashmin’s Eco Resort, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony, President of the GRC, Ras Simeon said “For the first time members of our community will sit to discuss as one voice, recommend and maintain roles and issues relevant to safeguarding our health and also to join in the national efforts to combat our common enemy, sickness and disease.”

Ras Simeon expressed appreciation for the inclusion of the Council in addressing health issues, as “health remains the richest asset of mankind.”

Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in his feature address at the beginning of the conference, noted that this represents the recognition that every group has a role to play in developing and maintaining a healthy Guyana.

“Today’s conference is our way of saying to you that we recognise that by ourselves (the Ministry of Health) cannot promote and accomplish good health for Guyana. It will have to be all of us…We will learn from each other,” he said.

Minister Ramsammy told the conference that was attended by Rastafaris from across the country that many of the diseases that plaque people today are because of unhealthy lifestyle choices. “The thing about health is that it is within our control. Whether it is HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, or the chronic diseases of diabetes, hypertension and even cervical cancer depends on our knowledge and therefore we must acquire knowledge…Once we know and use knowledge to inform our behaviour we will be healthy or healthier,” he said.

On this note the Minister commended the Rastafari Council for the theme, noting that knowledge is the key to preventing many illnesses. He also urged those in attendance to continue to share the need for knowledge with other Rastafaris and citizens so that they too can be empowered.

Facilitator of the Conference, Sister Bonita Harris, urged that the way of Rastafari is to have a balanced life of both spirituality/worship and material things. In this context she described the conference as something of worth, since reasoning is a gift of God which will be used throughout the proceedings.

Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme, noted that Ms. Harris has been a pioneer in the field of Health and has been collaborating with the Ministry in other areas. She added that Guyana has come a long way since the first HIV case was discovered locally; and today, the ministry is seeking the views of yet another critical group in how to continue battling the disease.