BUTLERS, Nevis. WHILE the visiting Global Faith Alliance (GFA) medical outreach team describes the health of Nevisians as generally good, a spokesman told SKNVibes that high blood pressure is very prevalent among members of the population.
According to Dr. Bernard Winchester, “The health is good except for a few cases. The biggest issue is blood pressure.”
The GFA team, comprising one doctor and 12 nurses, offered free screening services at the Eden Brown Church of God and Jessup’s New Testament Church of God earlier this week, and Dr. Winchester said they also educated persons who turned up on eating right and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“We had to make sure that we educate them on eating right so their hearts are not being overworked,” he said.
Some of the causes of blood pressure include poor eating habits, overwork and obesity.
Based on its mandate of combining medical healing with divine healing, the faith-based organisation also held night crusades at Eden Brown and Cotton Ground.
Explaining why health care is important in Christian ministries, Dr. Winchester – a theologian – said a complete ministry is one that reaches out holistically.
“Our bodies are temples of God. We want to bless people from a natural perspective as well because often we do not take good care of ourselves.”
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Dr Winchester said Jesus was careful what he ate. “There are three things he ate, fish, fowl and fruits. Those are some of the things we should concentrate on as well as proper exercise. The other things should be eaten in moderation. As God’s children, we have to be able to take care of ourselves.”
He encouraged those whose health conditions seem incurable not to give up but to turn to God like the woman with “an issue of blood” who, after trying medicine for 12 years, touched the hem of Jesus’ garments and was healed.
“At times we have to get to a man of God. I would submit that as a child of God you have a telephone in your bosom as my mum would say. You can communicate with God. You can have faith and believe that God can heal. If you do not have faith, you can go to a man of God. The bible says where two or three are gathered by faith God can do the impossible.”
The GFA also held sessions in St. Kitts with some 30 volunteers manning 60 stations there.
GFA has been in existence for more than 20 years. During this time, its activities, in partnership with First Baptist Church of Marshall Heights and The African Health Foundation, have been funded by financial donations from membership dues and the support of various churches, mosques, individuals and organisations throughout the United States and abroad.
