Gratified by the overwhelming response and attendance of a large cross-section of the Anguillian community, in relation to Caribbean Wellness Day, Senior Health Educator in Anguilla, Mrs. Jennifer Gumbs, remarked: “Don’t take health fairs for granted.”
She was speaking following the Wellness Day Fair in Anguilla on September 12. “We had more people at this health fair than last year. Last year we had one hundred PSA vouchers and before lunchtime they were finished. That’s why this year we increased the number to one hundred and fifty,” the Senior Health Educator said. She reported that there were two hundred cholesterol tests; that large numbers of persons tested for high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, BMI, HIV, collected vouchers for vision tests and also received health counselling.
“You must not take health fairs for granted because they are very important,” she stressed. “Every time we have a health fair, we always make an intervention as there were persons whom we actually had to send either to the hospital or clinic. Usually, some persons are walking around feeling good but not knowing they have an elevated blood pressure or blood sugar. I am therefore asking the general public not to take health fairs for granted…Anytime you have a chance, just check yourself.”
Mrs Gumbs was supported by the Minister of Health, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, who commended the Health Authority for its community outreach. He encourag
ed all persons to turn up for the free tests whenever they are offered, and spoke particularly to men whom he said often needed more encouragement to seek assistance.
Mr. George Brown, Chief Executive Officer, with the Health Authority of Anguilla, noted that Caribbean Wellness Day was inaugurated in 2008 by CARICOM Heads of Government and is observed every year on the second Saturday in September. He joined in encouraging all persons in Anguilla to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the health fairs. 
