Adventist-Muslim Relations of Zamboanga Peninsula Mission seeks to open its First Adventist Wellness Center in Sulu, Philippines.
Sulu Province is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and is home to a significant population of Muslims in the Philippines. Due to its geographic location as one of the southernmost islands in the country, the locals face challenges in accessing essential healthcare services and facilities. Furthermore, the prevalence of serious health conditions such as tuberculosis, malnutrition, scabies outbreaks, and hypertension necessitates urgent intervention.
The building of this first Adventist Wellness Center is currently in progress in the mountainous Sinumaan Complex in Talipao Sulu. The complex was well-known as one of the safe havens of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists, where most of the deadly weapons of war have once used in the past two decades. Since the area was opened by the 11th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in 2021 for Adventists to hold its health, education, agriculture, and livelihood ministries, the growing and pressing need arose to a greater extent as more people are being accessed and assessed.
The project aims to help the underserved community and teach them how to prepare healthy foods and educate them about the healthy lifestyle patterned after the NEWSTART principles: nutrition, exercise, water, sunlight, air, rest, and trust in Allah (SWT). Moreover, this also endeavors to serve as an auxiliary for the RHU, Rural Health Unit in Talipao, and as a way to provide support for patients needing hospital care. Also, this seeks to make every home a wellness center with the health message.
While the project is yet to open due to some limited funding, the Adventist-Muslim Relations (AMR) workers of the Adventist Mission in Zamboanga Peninsula Mission have been doing their daily groundwork as mobile wellness instruments of the Great Healer above by providing health education, disease prevention through home visitations, collaboration with other healthcare providers, and punching nails with prayers to get the facility done.
