EHF's 9th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion

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Starting: June 4, 2013 - 12:07 PM

Ending: June 4, 2013 - 12:07 PM

An event worthy of acclamation!

The staging of EHF’s 9^th annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion on April 15-18, 2013 featured events that invited the support of corporate Jamaica, schools from across the island and the general public. This year’s promise of a bigger and more exciting week of events came to fruition.

Day 1 – Media Day & Launch

The 2013 promotion was centered on the theme, “Wellness: It Can Be Done” and was launched on Monday, April 15 on the set of CVM’s prime morning programme, CVM at Sunrise. Representing EHF was the Project Manager, Mrs. Latoya Aquart-Foster, who summarized the week’s activities and invited the full support of Jamaicans to ensure its success. Prior to this appearance, advertisements were released in the Jamaica Observer, which prompted important responses and queries from the public. See below recorded interview

http://www.cvmtv.com/videos_1.php?id=1067§ion=sunrise

Above: (L-R) Mrs. Novlet Deans, CEO/Director – EHF Group of Companies; Mrs. Latoya Aquart-Foster, Project Manager – EHF; Mrs. Myrtle Wellington, Principal – Shady Grove Basic School

Above: Mrs. Novlet Deans, CEO/Director – EHF Group of Companies with the students of the Shady Grove Basic School

In commemoration of its 9^th annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion, EHF  donated one hundred and fifty (150) copies of the “Wellness Alphabet Book”, and ten (10) copies of the “Wellness Alphabet Book – Teacher’s Guide” to the Shady Grove Basic School at 217 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6.  The children were extremely excited and showed promise that they will be utilizing the books fully to aid their development and in particular, their knowledge on wellness.

Day 2 - Schools Wellness Cub Re-launch and Wellness Seminar

The EHF Schools Wellness Club programme was re-launched on Tuesday April 16. Wellness Club members from nine (9) schools from the parishes of Kingston, St. Ann and Clarendon were in attendance. Mr. Clayton Hall, President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, and Dr. Sonia Davidson, Lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica both brought greetings.

Mrs. Novlet Deans, CEO/Director – EHF Group presented the overview of the revamped Schools Wellness Club programme, accenting the club’s new tag line ‘Future Leaders Actively Engage in Wellness’. The Schools Wellness Club banner was unveiled and accepted by the audience.

Above: (L-R) Faradaine Forbes-Edwards, Project Officer - EHF; Mr. Clayton Hall, President - JTA; Dr. Sonia Davidson, Lecturer - UTech with students of the Schools Wellness Club programme

Above: (L-R) Mrs. Novlet Deans, CEO/Director – EHF Group of Companies; Students of the Wellness Club programme; Faradadaine Forbes-Edwards (back turned), Project Officer – EHF, unveiling the Schools Wellness Club banner

Subsequently, the inaugural annual Wellness Quiz competition featured representations from four (4) schools, namely Lannaman’s Preparatory, St. Richards Primary, Shar-Mar Preparatory and Servite Primary.

After an exhilarating two rounds of competition, Lannaman’s Preparatory emerged as the overall champion. All the students demonstrated diligence and true sportsmanship, which played a significant role in them succeeding as champions. They were challenged by opponents with equal virtuosity, but who were unable to outwit them in their pursuit of the title.

Above: (L-R) Latoya Aquart-Foster, Project Manager – EHF hosting the Schools Wellness Quiz competition. To her left are the students from Servite Primary who won their match against Shar-Mar Preparatory

Above: Centre – Faradaine Forbes-Edwards, Project Officer - EHF (hosting) with Patina Rankine, Project Officer – EHF/USAID presenting certificate of participation to a member Shar-Mar Preparatory’s quiz team, Kumar Lu-fung

Above: (L-R) Rhianna Campbell St. Richards Primary’s quiz team accepting her certificate of participation from Patina Rankine, Project Officer – EHF/USAID

Above: Winners of the Wellness Quiz completion, Lannaman’s Preparatory (L-R) Teacher, Andre Longman and students – Shawn-Rae Roberts; Sandrea Sangster; Christina Biersay; Tianna Simmonds

This was followed by the highly anticipated Schools Wellness Seminar which was once again hosted by Mrs. Dorrset Gabbidon-Pottinger, Acting Assistant Registrar, Student Services and Career and Placement Officer at the University of Technology, Jamaica. She facilitated an enlightening presentation on the topic: "Wellness – It Can Be Done”, encouraging the students to engage in all dimensions of wellness.

Above: Mrs. Dorrset Gabbidon-Pottinger, Acting Assistant Registrar, Student Services and Career and Placement Officer at the University of Technology, Jamaica, facilitating the Wellness Seminar

Day 3 - Grand Wellness & Lifestyle Awards Ceremony & Dinner

EHF’s Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion 2013 success was heightened with the staging of the 9^th  Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Award Ceremony & Dinner on April 17, 2013, on the lawns of Eden Gardens. The atmosphere was electrified with anticipation of an eventful evening, honouring those organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to wellness in Jamaica.

Above: Professor The Hon. Errol Morrison, President - University of Technology, Jamaica, Director - University Diabetes Outreach Project, gracefully chairing the evening's proceedings

The programme’s compère was the enthralling Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, President – University of Technology, Jamaica and Director – University Diabetes Outreach Project. The programme opened with the singing of the national anthem followed by welcome and opening remarks from Dr. the Hon. Henry Lowe. He graciously thanked the members of the business community for their contributions and urged them to expand their support of wellness, and by extension, the line of products offered by the EHF Group of Companies.  

Above: Dr. the Hon. Henry I.C. Lowe - Executive Chairman, EHF Group of Companies welcoming the prestigious guests and bringing opening remarks

Remarks continued from Mr. Hurley Taylor, Health Minister’s Advisor/Consultant – Ministry of Health; Dr. Cecil White, Senior Vice President for Operations – National Health Fund; Ms. Sonita Abrahams, Director – Rise Life Management Services (2012 awardee); and Mr. Brando Hayden, Asst. General Manager – Jamaica National Building Society (2012 awardee).

Above: Mr. Hurley Taylor –Advisor/Consultant, Ministry of Health bringing remarks

Above: Dr. Cecil White - Senior Vice President of Operations - National Health Fund bringing remarks

   

Above: Ms. Sonita Abrahams - Director, RISE Life Management Services bringing remarks               

Above: Mr. Brando Hayden - Asst. General Manager, Jamaica National Building Society bringing remarks

The appetizing remarks set the tone for the evening’s main course - the keynote address from Mr. Milton Samuda, Chairman of the Board – Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO). He challenged Jamaicans to plan big and aspire to achieve the highest possible standards of excellence, in an effort to counter the economic crisis facing the country.

Above: Mr. Milton Samuda, Chairman of the Board - JAMPRO, delivering his powerful keynote address

Following Mr. Samuda’s address was a dynamic entertainment segment by Keisha Patterson.

Above: Keisha Patterson melodiously entertaining the audience

“About the Awards” was eloquently read by EHF's CEO/Director, Mrs. Novlet Deans, followed by the reading of the citations and presentation of awards to the 2013 Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion award recipients.

Above: Mrs. Novlet Deans, CEO/Director - EHF Group of Companies presenting 'About the Awards'

The 2013 Award Recipients were:

Dr. Heather Little-White was posthumously awarded with the Wellness & Lifestyle Award for Excellence in the Individual category. She was honoured for her untiring advocacy in promoting and committing her own life to health and wellness.

Above: (L-R) Dr. Herbert Lowe, Deputy Chairman - EHF Group of Companies, presenting the Wellness & Lifestyle Award for Excellence in the Individual Category to Dr. Heather Little-White (posthumously) - Accepting the award is widower Mr. Peter Watson

Professor Graham Serjeant copped the award in the Regional/International category for being a pioneer in Sickle Cell research, and for enhancing the quality of lives of hundreds of sickle cell carriers.

Above: (L-R) Ms. Toniecia Coleman, Administrative Asst. - BioTech RDI, presenting the Wellness & Lifestyle award for Excellence in the Regional/International Category to Professor Graham Serjeant, Head of the Sickle Cell Unit, UWI Mona for pioneering Sickle Cell research locally, regionally and internationally

The Collage of Health Sciences - University of Technology, Jamaica emerged as this year’s awardee in the Lifestyle, Education and Development category, for being the first and only academic entity in the Caribbean to raise Wellness to an appropriate area for academic instruction and scholarly research.

Above: (L-R) Alicea James, Editor - Pelican Publishers Ltd. presenting the Wellness & Lifestyles Award for Excellence in the Lifestyle, Education & Development Category to the Collage of Health Science - UTech. Accepting the award is Dr. Ellen Campbell Grizzle, Associate Professor and Dean, College of Health Sciences, UTech Jamaica

Guardian Life Limited received the award in the Industry & Service Provider category, for spearheading a Corporate Wellness Programme for its employees in an effort to better their social, physical and mental health.

Above: (L-R) Mr. Walter Davis, Manager of Services and Operations - Eden Gardens presenting the Wellness & Lifestyle award for Excellence in the Industry & Service Provider category to Guardian Life Ltd. Accepting the award is Sophia Henry, Record Manager at Guardian Life

Above: Mrs. Latoya Aquart-Foster, Project Manager - EHF moving the Vote of Thanks

The evening closed with exciting giveaways, prizes and surprises, including a Samsung Galaxy smart phone courtesy of Digicel Jamaica; Gift certificates  from Spanish Court Hotel and the Grog Shoppe Restaurant and  Nirvana Day Spa.

Above: (L-R) Mrs. Novlet Deans, CEO/Director - EHF Group presenting a prize to the lucky winners

 

The winner of a Samsung Galaxy Note II accepting his prize from the Digicel Representative

 Day 4 – Nutrition and Fitness Workshops

The week of activities culminated with the very dynamic Nutrition and Fitness workshops on Thursday April 18. Nestlé Jamaica again facilitated this year’s Nutrition workshop. Nestlé's Market Nutritionist, Mrs. Krishta-Gay Lewis-Harewood, along with her assistants, elevated the level of excitement with very relevant and informative presentations on the food groups, appropriate serving portions and how to read food labels.

Above: The dynamic team from Nestlé Jamaica having a ‘vibe’ session with the audience

During the presentations, Ms. Shelly-Ann Castello, Assistant Culinary Specialist at Nestlé, facilitated a meal-demonstration segment, in which she prepared a delicious punch and one-pot meal, much to the delight of the audience, who managed to devour every bit of it. The work-shop ended with a very interactive dance segment.

Above (L-R) Nordett Morrison and Shelly-Ann Castello preparing the delicious curried salt-fish

Debra Hamilton, Health Care Assistant, added significant value to the workshop providing free blood pressure checks.

The week could not have ended on a better note than with Personal Trainers from Spartan Health Club and Stewart Maxwell (Wellness Consultant) hosting the Fitness workshop. Members of the public participated in what they described as fun, energetic and relaxing workout segments.

Above: (L-R) Stephen Ming and Courtney Bailey, Certified Personal Trainers from Spartan Health Club facilitating a session during the fitness workshop

Above: Stewart Maxwell, Wellness Consultant facilitating the yoga and Tai Chi session

The Evaluation conducted revealed that 100% of the participants found the workshops to be very worthwhile and extremely beneficial towards helping them improve their state of wellness.

EHF's 9th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion was sponsored by:

As EHF closes the curtain on its 9th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Promotion, we invite you, our fellow Jamaicans, to join us in our efforts of not only promoting, but living healthy, positive lifestyles.