The summer has finally arrived and started off with a buzz of health activities when the Osmani Centre was brought to life with the Health Expo event last Thursday 9th May 2013. Organised by the Osmani Trust Health Trainers team, the event was attended by the Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman, Cllr Abdul Asad, cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Shafiqul Haque, cabinet member for Jobs and Skills and Cllr Gulam Rabbani.
The Health Expo was a huge success, with both exhibitors and visitors reporting a very productive and vibrant event. Now in its second year, the event brought the whole community together by promoting health and wellbeing and better community relations between the diverse communities living within the local area.
The main aim of the Health Expo was to bring together professionals and practitioners from the health and wellness industries, NHS services and local community projects with the general public to encourage a lifestyle of health and wellbeing through networking, information sharing, taster exercise sessions and awareness of local health services.
The event attracted over 50 stall holders and over 600 people from all over Tower Hamlets. People enjoyed a whole range of activities including reflexology foot massage, Indian neck and back massage, BMI checks, blood pressure checks, glucose checks, dental screening, cancer awareness, tobacco cessation, henna hand painting and everyone got to enjoy lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
The event was themed around eight key health topics such as healthy eating and nutrition, physical activity and exercise, mental health, substance misuse and alcohol awareness, health checks, children and family services, tobacco cessation, physiology and therapy. Local people and families got the opportunity to speak to the experts, received free health screenings and gathered cutting edge information about services on a wide variety of health issues.
Local people and guests got the chance to enjoy a live performance of Shaolin Kung Fu martial arts performed by the monks. People were mesmerised by the different array of this traditional art. The event ended with six lucky raffle prize winners who received a variety of electronic health and body care products. The first prize winner who won a rice cooker/steamer said: “I am delighted with my prize and thoroughly enjoyed this event.”
A local resident said “I really enjoyed today’s event. There was something for everyone which made it a bigger success. I spent hours talking to health professionals and had several different health checks. I got to have a massage as well and now feel very relaxed and flexible. The Mayor of Tower Hamlets even took the time to speak to me. Praise to Osmani Trust for another excellent event.” A special praise came from the Jump Start Coordinator Suzanne Mee who said: “What a great event. Well done to all staff at Osmani Trust and thank you for the invite.”
The Mayor Lutfur Rahman was extremely delighted with the turnout of local residents and spent quite a considerable amount of time speaking to a lot of people. He also engaged very positively with all the stall holders and made extra efforts to go round the expo meeting the variety of exhibitors on the day. The Mayor was impressed and proud of Osmani Trust and the success of the Health Expo. He said: “Raising health awareness among our residents is a key priority for the Council and its partners. I’m delighted to see first-hand, the excellent work that Osmani Trust is providing through events like the Health Expo, and hundreds of residents taking advantage of the various services on offer whether it’s smoking cessation, keeping fit or healthy eating.”
Commenting on the events success, Shelim Shakir, the Health Trainers Team Leader and event organiser said “I am delighted by the overwhelmingly positive feedback received so far and would like to say a huge thank you to all of our exhibitors, visitors, guests and supporters, for making the Health Expo a very successful, inspiring and educational event.”
For more information about the event and the Health Trainers service, please call on 0207 247 8080 or email Shelim.shakir@osmanitrust.org.