Where else can you find all of the answers to your health care questions, get a free toothbrush, actually see how well you wash your hands, and have a conversation with talking bananas, all in one day? The Argus Health Fair 2009, of course!

On World Health Day, April 7th, 30 of Bermuda's health care organisations, professionals, and health-oriented charities took over Number six shed on Front Street to promote their message loud and clear: Bermudians need to start taking responsibility for their own health and well-being.

The ribbon cutting was performed by a representative from each of the partnership of hosts: CEO and President of Argus, Gerald Simons, Minister of Health, Nelson Bascome, and CEO of Bermuda Hospitals Board, David Hill.

"The theme for the Argus booth was inspired by the 'apple-a-day' adage," Gerald Simons explained at the opening of the fair.

He continued with the shocking fact that "93 percent of Bermudians don't eat the recommended five-a-day servings of fruits and vegetables," which is connected to the increase in obesity and other dietary illnesses in Bermuda.

The fair covered the broad range of all aspects of health, from physical to mental and emotional, and compared the spectrum of lifestyle choices, often showing how easy it is to be healthier.

Professionals from all departments of the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the Department of Health were on hand to answer questions, while booths for various charities, such as the Bermuda Heart Foundation, Al-Anon, and Bermuda Cancer and Health, showcased the multitude of services they provide to the community.

Michael Nesbit, a spokesperson for the Bermuda Hospitals Board, was calling for people to "SpeakUp!" about their health and concerns. The SpeakUp! campaign, launched in 2007, encourages people to take an active interest in their own health.

"Many people, especially the elderly, are often uncomfortable asking questions about their diagnosis, treatment plans, or medication," explains Mr. Nesbit. "But really, it's so important to sit with your doctor and be sure that you fully understand your situation so you can act appropriately."

Natasha Pedro-Petty reinforces the SpeakUp! message that "education is the key to acceptance."

Ms. Pedro Petty is a therapist for Tomorrow's Voices, an Autism intervention centre on the Island for young children.

"Tomorrow's voices is not simply about teaching kids, but also about training parents" she said. "It's important that we treat these kids like they are more normal — they can be helped."

While visitors to the booth took a moment to play with the array of interactive toys on display, she explained that some habits, such as nail-biting or a fear of public speaking, may be signs of mild autism. "Everyone has a little bit of Autism," she jokes. "So we should all be compelled to learn about it as much as possible, to help these kids."

The coolest exhibit had to be at the Infection Control Department's booth. Kate Tomkins and Janice DeSilva were more than eager to show people the simplest way to cull the spread of infection: good hand-washing habits, a subject brought into sharp focus by the recent spate of Swine Flu.

On display at their booth was a space age looking device that housed a UV light, where people could put their hands to see how well they wash. First you rub Glitterbug lotion on your hands; this lotion has a similar staying power to the commonly encountered germs in daily life, and glows under UV light.

Then you 'wash your hands' as well as you can, and literally see the results. Most of the people who tried were amazed at how much their hands glowed!

"It's not about the temperature of the water, or even how much soap, but how much friction you use to dislodge the germs from the creases of your hands, around your fingernails, and even the shallow indent in your palms" says Kate.

Janice offers some sound advice: "It should take as long as singing 'Happy Birthday', twice."

One of the most visited booths — whether for the location, the free stuff, or the clear and informative posters — was the Argus "five-a-day" booth. Kim Davies, one of the creative minds behind the booth, explained that the idea for the booth had come out of information compiled from Argus' Client Personal Wellness Profiles, which were implemented in 2004.

As the President & CEO of Argus mentioned in the opening address, "these profiles showed that Bermudians just don't get enough fruit and vegetables" so Argus decided to show people the health and economic benefits of a fruit-filled diet.

They project that you could save $952.65 a year on average by simply eating healthier!

"We're trying to encourage people to get back to basics by suggesting that they eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, the darker coloured the better, but also control portion size."

Many members of the community, of all age-groups demographics, were excited to explore the booths and partake of various treasures including a free eco-friendly bag, fruit from the fruit stand, and a variety of handouts and giveaways from toothbrushes, to pens, to hand sanitiser.

Handing out the free bags at the entrance were two especially 'a-peeling' characters: the Argus Banana Mascots! Shelby Camera thinks the fair is important because "it helps people realise that there are others to help them have a healthy life." The two girls were having as much fun as the visitors and Xana Lima said it was "fun to see all the people laughing."