(South Eleuthera, The Bahamas) – World Diabetes Day, 2012, was recognized in South Eleuthera, in November, by a series of initiatives led by  Nurse Bianca Edwards, and Mrs. Tamara Moncur. The pair coordinated an all day community event on the 17th, with four main objectives;

  • to provide education on the prevention and management of diabetes;
  • to encourage healthy eating and physical activity;
  •  to motivate healthy lifestyle choices;
  • and to create awareness of diabetes and the ways to prevent it.

It all got started early with a 6:30 am walk-a-thon, from the Rock Sound Homecoming site to Charles Bay corner and back to the site. Seventy persons participated in the forty five minute walk dubbed, “The Walk against Diabetes”.  These included school children as young as seven from the various primary schools right on up to seventeen, with high school students including a number of members from the Key Club.  Student nursing cadets also took part, supervising the younger walkers.  The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) assisted  by  providing patrol services, while others provided ambulance services, and water for the walkers.  Winners in each category were awarded with trophies: (See winners listed at end)


Seventy people of all ages participated in the WDD 2012 event in South Eleuthera.

Health screenings following the walk began at 8:15 am for two hours.  Participants were screened for blood sugar, blood pressure, waist circumference and weight.  They were educated about maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) by Nurses Tandra Longley and Nurse Latasha Collie.  Ms. Mimi Roberts, pharmacist, also assisted with the health screenings.

Chef Michael Hoyte of Exuma, was invited to host a cooking demonstration at the Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Center (EACC) in Tarpum Bay, later in the day.  He presented and taught on the benefits of eating and preparing foods that are not processed or genetically modified, such as greens, wholegrain and foods with a low glycemic index.  Chef Hoyte’s menu for the afternoon included wild rice, kale with coconut, fish cakes and seamoss salad.  Desserts were blueberry and strawberry pies made with all natural products.  The 100+ participants are said to have enjoyed the healthy eats and treats and asked numerous questions during the demonstration.  Children attending were also entertained during the demonstration with face painting, balloon giveaways and diabetes quizzes with prizes.

The evening production began at 5:30pm at the EACC which included presentations by Nurse Velma Dorsett and Nurse Regina Ingraham on the diagnoses of and testing for diabetes, as well as the importance of healthy eating and exercise in the management of diseases.  The audience was then treated to a variety of dance, poetry, music and pantomime, as well as a testimonial speech by real life diabetic, Paulette Strachen, who spoke of her battle with diabetes and her recent successes as a result of her participation in the ‘Wellness’ programs.

One of the highlights of the evening was the performance of a skit by the South Eleuthera Drama team entitled, ‘Sweetness never done’.  The skit re-enacted real life situations with diabetic patients and served to inform and educate with lots of laughter thrown in.  The success of the skit, prompted organizers to consider taking it to other settlements in Eleuthera to continue raising awareness of diabetes.  The day of events was topped off with a junkanoo rush out against diabetes, where parents and children took to the streets. 

Organizers expressed a special thank you to all sponsors, and partners who helped to make the day of events the success that it was.

 

“The Walk against Diabetes” WINNERS

 

Trophy winners

6-12 years

1st place: Davante Rolle (Wemyss Bight Primary)

2nd place: Toriano Scott (Wemyss Bight Primary)

3rd place: Tillia Leary (Deep Creek Middle School)

13-18 years

1st place: Trenique Hall (Preston H Albury)

2nd place: Nicoya Johnson

3rd place: India Young (Preston H. Albury)

Category 19-25 was Anthram Rolle 1st place as he was the only walker in that category.

26-35

1st place: Daniel Smith

2nd place: Delmar Taylor

3rd place: Tina Leary

36-45

1st place: Demetrius Wildgoose

2nd place: Donnalee Wildgoose

3rd place: Mimi Roberts

45-55

1st place: Diane Carey

2nd place: Sybil Forbes

3rd place: Michelle Gibson-Leary

56-65

1st Place: Nola Brown

2nd place: Loretta McKinney

3rd place: Daphne Adderley