The Organization
The Vision and Mission
Acknowledging operational reality in programs implementation the foundation adopted in 2013
the call-name “Body, Mind and Spirit” to highlight its incorporation of all healthy, balanced
lifestyle promotion efforts. While the organization has broadened its scope it is still the prime
agency in collaboration with the Public Health Department, charged to spearhead the
development and implementation of the Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control.
Through our ongoing efforts the organization seeks to further the well-being of the community
by mobilizing resources to prevent diseases and promote healthy lifestyle.
The identity and tasks of Body, Mind & Spirit have evolved and developed during the past 25
years. Starting as a support group for people living with HIV, BMS has over the years become a
key player on Saba in sexual health awareness and advocacy for marginalized groups.
Three main components can be identified as the core business of BMS:
Once founded as the AIDS Support Group Saba the mission was fairly clear. This is what is
mentioned in the original ASGS Statutes:
"The purpose of the foundation is:
a. to execute the insular strategic plan on HIV/AIDS on the island territory of Saba and all related activities with such plan;
b. to further improve the well being of PLWHA's on Saba, by means of activities both on and off island;
c. to allow for the soliciting of funds on island and off island to enable the foundation to execute said activities;
d. to do whatever conducive to the aforementioned purpose."
Body, Mind & Spirit has evolved beyond these core values. What BMS wants to achieve on Saba still includes the original purpose, but the mission and vision have broadened substantially.
The vision of Body, Mind & Spirit is:
“To create and support a healthy, inclusive society on Saba, that accepts and understands
differences between people and works towards improving and safeguarding the quality of life of
everyone.”
Our guiding principles are:
The mission objectives following this are:
Our public health awareness campaigns are designed to target:
The Vision and Mission
Acknowledging operational reality in programs implementation the foundation adopted in 2013
the call-name “Body, Mind and Spirit” to highlight its incorporation of all healthy, balanced
lifestyle promotion efforts. While the organization has broadened its scope it is still the prime
agency in collaboration with the Public Health Department, charged to spearhead the
development and implementation of the Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control.
Through our ongoing efforts the organization seeks to further the well-being of the community
by mobilizing resources to prevent diseases and promote healthy lifestyle.
The identity and tasks of Body, Mind & Spirit have evolved and developed during the past 25
years. Starting as a support group for people living with HIV, BMS has over the years become a
key player on Saba in sexual health awareness and advocacy for marginalized groups.
Three main components can be identified as the core business of BMS:
- Human Rights,
- Improvement of Quality of Life,
- General Health & Wellness
Once founded as the AIDS Support Group Saba the mission was fairly clear. This is what is
mentioned in the original ASGS Statutes:
"The purpose of the foundation is:
a. to execute the insular strategic plan on HIV/AIDS on the island territory of Saba and all related activities with such plan;
b. to further improve the well being of PLWHA's on Saba, by means of activities both on and off island;
c. to allow for the soliciting of funds on island and off island to enable the foundation to execute said activities;
d. to do whatever conducive to the aforementioned purpose."
Body, Mind & Spirit has evolved beyond these core values. What BMS wants to achieve on Saba still includes the original purpose, but the mission and vision have broadened substantially.
The vision of Body, Mind & Spirit is:
“To create and support a healthy, inclusive society on Saba, that accepts and understands
differences between people and works towards improving and safeguarding the quality of life of
everyone.”
Our guiding principles are:
- Equality in access to quality, affordable health care is a fundamental human right;
- Every individual, family in our community deserves to be treated with dignity and respect;
- Creating awareness on evidence-based, prevention-focused, person-centered services yields better health outcomes for both the individual and our community;
- Partnerships and collaborations based on mutual trust and benefit contribute value to our work and better serve our community avoiding waste in resource allocation;
- Excellence is best achieved through leadership that values inclusion, diversity, innovation and accountability.
The mission objectives following this are:
- To prevent and control the spread of HIV;
- To contribute to the poverty reduction through the sustainable prevention of the spread
of diseases, while promoting model preventative strategies; - To allow PLHIV and other marginalized groups to live a full productive life with the same
medical care as for any standard chronic condition; - To implement public health target campaigns targeting the elimination of stigma and
discrimination against PLHIV and other marginalized groups; - To build awareness of choices to prevent the spread of STDs, by setting up information
sites at strategic points throughout the island; - To assist Health Care providers by increasing their skill and attitudinal approach in
treating and counselling PLHIV and at-risk vulnerable groups; - To train educators who will mainstream educational sexual health and family planning
programs and STD awareness in schools; - To inform public and private sector stakeholders of our island on best practice
employment guidelines that assure tolerance and integration of all individuals
irrespective of health status or lifestyle choices. - The promotion of the general well-being of the population through informed, balanced
lifestyle choices.
Our public health awareness campaigns are designed to target:
- The resident population of Saba so as to:
- Eliminate stigma and discrimination;
- To build awareness of choices to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and STDs, by setting up information sites at strategic points throughout the island;
- Health Care professionals and providers by increasing their skills and attitudinal approach to treat and council vulnerable groups;
- Educators who will mainstream educational programs on sexual education, HIV/AIDS and STI awareness, discrimination and stigmatization in schools;
- PLHIV who will benefit from a greater support and awareness within their communities;
- Human rights activists who will acquire information and techniques;
- Caribbean/global networks to lobby policy makers to improve social-economic conditions for PLHIV, vulnerable groups such as MSM, CSW, the disabled and children and young adults (particularly girls and women) to stimulate widespread public campaigns to improve quality of life and to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and address stigma and discrimination across the population;
- The public and private sector of our island in general.
