“This is a historic occasion. You, Seventh Day Adventists, were the
first Faith-Based Organization (FBO) to come en masse at the World
Health Organization (WHO) headquarters. You, Adventists, were the
first FBO to come en masse at the executive board room of WHO,” so
were the words of Ted Karpf, Head of Department of Partnerships & UN
Reform, WHO.
|
 
(Above) WHO Headquarter in Geneva (Left) WHO Executive
Boardroom |
Indeed it was a very surreal experience; I still can’t believe that
God would allow me, together with three Malaysia PEM representatives:
Allan Yap, Rose Solano & Dr. Pang Chu Yen - this once-in-a-lifetime
privilege to rub shoulders and listen with great enthusiasm to the
world-renown Health Specialists; coming en masse at the World Health
Organization Headquarters in Geneva Switzerland for a conference on
Health & Lifestyle.
|
Sir Michael Marmot, Director of the International Institute for
Society & Health |
Speakers like Sir Michael Marmot, an internationally acclaimed
Professor who was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen for his
contribution as a world-renown Epidemiologist; he joked that just
before coming to this conference he was in a UN meeting with Cherry
Blair who made a comment on him being naive as he posit that as world
leaders on health, health equity should be achieved not just by
talking but by closing the gap on social issues. He was passionate
about achieving a fair society, health for all, regardless of color,
creed, and social status.
|
Dr. Gary Fraser, Principal Investigator, Adventist Health
Study;
Professor of Epidemiology, Loma Linda University |
Then there was Dr. Gary Fraser – another world renown Epidemiologist
who was responsible in putting into limelight the lifestyle of the
Seventh Day Adventists by his work on the Adventist Study; and not
forgetting Gwen Foster, who at 62 years old was dubbed as “Health
Czar” when she helped turn around the health of people in the city of
Philadelphia, USA – conducting health programs based on the core
values of the Adventist Lifestyle and garnered much media publicity
including being a guest at the famous Oprah Winfrey show and “Today
Show,” both in the US.
|
Gwen Foster, Health Czar, Philadelphia USA |
In his opening speech, Jan Paulsen, President of the Seventh Day
Adventist church, urged community involvement as a key to express the
Adventist values as we fulfil the mission as a church. “We cannot
express our faith, our desire to imitate Christ, in seclusion,” he
added.
Dr. Allan Handysides, Health Ministries Director stressed that the
fundamental value of healthcare is the appreciation of human life; and
that healthcare must be delivered regardless of gender, religion, or
race.
|
Dr. Allan Handysides, Health Ministries Director, General
Conference of
the Seventh Day Adventist
The Malaysia PEM representatives: (L-R) Allan Yap, Jane Yap,
Dr. Pang & Rose Solano |
The Health & Lifestyle conference was the first lifestyle convention
organized by the General Conference Health Ministries Department, held
in partnership with the WHO, represented by about 90 countries around
the world. It was help from 6-11 July 2009 at Geneva, Switzerland.
Praise the Lord indeed!
