George Henry, Gleaner Writer

The second annual Jamaica Central (JAMCEN) Health and Wellness Expo, held on the grounds of the Southern Regional Health Authority at 3 Brumalia Road in Mandeville, Manchester on Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29, has been described as a success.

Chief organiser of the event which was dubbed, 'Get plugged into life', Annette Salmon, and who came up with the idea of staging such an event for the parishes of Manchester, Clarendon and St Elizabeth for the first time last year, told Outlook that there was an 80 per cent increase in the number of booths occupied by exhibitors this year over last year.

She noted that the first staging of the expo saw only 10 booths, but this year the number increased to 18; with exhibitors displaying several items and services as they relate to health and wellness.

Every opportunity to benefit

Salmon noted that the expo was held over two days because the idea of the organisers was to give people who are busy on a Saturday or a Sunday for religious reasons every opportunity to benefit from the event.

"Over the two days we have had persons passing through steadily, and every booth-holder has received some impact from what it is that they came here for; I would definitely say that the two days have been fairly successful," noted Salmon.

The Health and Wellness Expo chief organiser stated that the objective of the event was to expose persons in the three parishes to good healthy living, as well as to expose them to the ways in which they can develop a culture of mental, physical, spiritual, financial and other aspects of wellness.

Salmon also pointed out that in an effort to help promote backyard gardening, patrons were encouraged to view and purchase fruit trees and other crops for planting, from an exhibitor who was specially invited to put on show crops that can be easily cultivated in the backyard.

"What we are doing is to encourage persons to set up their own vegetable gardens," explained Salmon.

Seminar offerings

Seminars included one aimed at helping persons to plan for retirement, financial wellness, preparing healthy meals, coping with job loss, importance of colon therapy, diabetes and complications among others.

"I have met the objective for this year's expo; it is an extremely good product, but what I have to do now is to build on it so that come next year I have the people, so that it will make much more sense for the exhibitors, she said.

Exhibitors and sponsors included Holsum Bakery, HTB, Excelsior Biscuit Company, Jamaica Standard Products, Facey Commodity, Manchester Health Department, Chiropractic Centre, Churches Credit Union, Institute of Arts and Culture, Sealy Bedding, Tunguska Blast, HEART Trust/NTA, Jamaica Red Cross, Jamaica Cancer Society, Power 106 FM and Music 99 FM.