In Jamaica, Adventists Offer Free Health Screenings with Scores of Rastafarians

Nyahabinghi Theocracy members go through tests while others what their turn during the special organized health clinic at one of their six locations in Scotts Path, Clarendon, Jamaica, on July 30, 2017. The free clinic was conducted by Nuevo Leon, Mexico through its Mobile Health Clinic. Image by Nigel Coke

August 1, 2017 | Scotts Path, Clarendon | Nigel Coke/IAD Staff

Scores of members of the Rastafairan, Nyahbinghi Theocracy Order located in a community in Clarendon, Jamaica, were treated to free health screenings last weekend thanks to the efforts of the Three Angels Pharmacy Mobile Health Clinic—a clinic owned and operated by Seventh-day Adventist Rohan McNellie.

Nurse Janet Waugh administers the blood pressure test on Peter Finlayson while Ashley Bonnick looks on. Image by Nigel Coke

McNellie, who manages the clinic and volunteer medical staff, was more than happy to assist members of the Rastafarian movement—a Abrahamic religion which was developed in Jamaica in the 1930s whose members worship and follow the late Haile Selassie, who was Ethiopia’s regent from 1916 and later emperor in 1930 until 1974. According to the Rastafarians, Emperor Haile Selassie I is considered a messianic figure that will lead a future golden age of eternal peace, righteousness and prosperity.

“We did not hesitate to say yes to the request by the group when they called us,” said Mcnellie. “Our focus is administering free health check-ups to anyone regardless of their class, race, economic or educational status or religion,” he added McNellie, who has been running the mobile clinic across seven parishes in Jamaica so far this year.

The request meant providing services on July 30, during the nine-day celebration commemorating the 125^th anniversary of the birth of the Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I in in Scotts Path, which is one of six locations of the Order island-wide.

Doctor Avery Roxborough listens attentively to the concerns of Denial Johnson during his appointment. Image by Nigel Coke

“We saw the group as a special one in that they practice strict vegetarian diet and believe in and worship on the Sabbath as we do.” The group worships on Sabbath, which they recognized from 6:00 pm Friday evening to 6:00 pm Saturday evening, which appears to be similar to the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s whose Sabbath is from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, commented McNellie.

When asked why it is important to worship on the Sabbath, Priest Allen quoted parts of the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8-11.

Approximately 200 members from the sixth Theocracy were present at the clinic. Some 109 persons including children were seen by the volunteer nurses where they screened blood pressure, blood sugar, eyes, Body Mass Index (BMI), along with health counseling. Dozens were referred to the medical doctor and optician on location. One of the members of the group had to be taken to hospital by a Red Cross stand-by ambulance because of a very high blood pressure.

“This is indeed a blessing in disguise for us,” said 76-year-old Vincent Allen, High Priest of the Nyahbinghi Theocracy Order. “We greatly appreciate what the Adventist health group has been doing here today. It is very important to know your health status so that it can be addressed if necessary.”

Erica McDonald, a member of the Theocracy admits that she knew she had high blood pressure before but “what the clinic has done is to make me more aware as to the level that it is and what I need to do to keep it in check.”

Two members of the Nyahbinghi Theocracy Order read Seventh-day Adventist publications Shakes (natural juices) and Priorities (which related to the harmful effects of sugar) magazines which were distributed to the group as part of the outreach exercise. Image by Nigel Coke

Retired Nurse Leonie Bailey said her experience assisting in the health clinic was an enriching one. One of the health challenges she observed after seeing a number of persons that there is a high incidence of hypertension and pre-diabetic issues.

“The hypertension that we see may have been caused from being up late at nights because of their beliefs,” said Bailey. “One gentleman whose pressure was high said he was up late last night and a woman admitted that she was up selling all night the night before.” Bailey said it can mean they have not rested enough and may have been dehydrated during the current hot weather.

Seventy-year-old Dennival Johnson was pleased with the care of the doctor and nurses as he went through the screenings. “You are a nice set of people and I wish you could come more often because some of the elders here cannot afford to go to the paid doctor,” added Johnson who got a good report on his numbers after not being able to see a doctor during the past two years. “We really appreciate this.”

McNellie said his medical team discovered that there is a great need for a dental clinic operation, which they hope to implement in in October.

“We don’t want to be partial in our address of their health needs, but to take a whollistic approach,” McNellie added.

Since its launch in late March this year, the Three Angels Pharmacy Mobile Health Clinic has been involved in approximately 20 outreach projects across seven parishes. The clinic has seen over 2,000 individuals so far and is planning to cover the rest of the 14 parishes across Jamaica, catering to various needy community groups and churches.