The Seventh-day Adventist is a branch of Protestant Christianity which places great emphasis on diet, health and the holistic search for one’s own identity. It considers Saturday as the seventh day of the Christian week.
The church at Jalan Raja DiHilir hosted a 3-day programme from October 27 to 29 stressing the importance of health, nutrition and fitness. It was opened to the public.
“Scientists in the US found that Adventist people live longer than the average person.” said Dennis Ng, the Co-director for Adventist Community Services. “This is because we follow this health and lifestyle programme known as NEW START, and it’s a way of life for us.”
NEW START is actually an acronym for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest and Trust – a vegetarian-based regime that promotes both physical and mental well-being. “These are the eight basic requirements in our daily life that could lead to optimal health,” he added.
The 3-day event highlighted and promoted this lifestyle and health in general. Health-related activities such as fitness test, vegetarian feast, CPR demonstration, pap-smear and breast examinations were held concurrently. The objective was to encourage and instil awareness in people to take charge of their own health therefore improving their own quality of life.
Besides the hands-on activities, talks by speakers from different hospitals on a broad range of health issues were also organised.
“We’re known for all health-related things. Some know us for our educational works, human rights, and our liberty endeavours,” said Dennis. “People are very health-conscious these days. We believe that the best way to health is not through health insurance but prevention itself.”
Personnel from Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Negara Perak (Women and Family Affairs Development), Hope on Wheels, Batu Gajah Mobile Blood Bank Unit, Ipoh District Red Crescent Society, CK Optometry and the Adventist Community Services team were on hand to help out in the programme.
Jack Foo
