Rotary Club of St. Maarten to Host First Women’s Health Conference
This is a free public event to spotlight Menopause, Cervical Cancer, and Domestic Violence. The Rotary Club of St. Maarten is proud to host the First Women’s Health Conference, a community event titled “Through Generations of Caribbean Queens,” on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the Belair Community Center.
Though this is the first edition focussed solely on women’s health, it marks the sixth conference in a long-standing health awareness series that began in 2014-2015. After being temporarily paused due to Hurricanes Irma and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rotary Club has revitalised the series starting in 2024. This year’s event is dedicated to timely and vital health issues impacting women.
The evening will feature short presentations during the first hour, followed by an interactive Q&A session with attendees. Topics will include menopause, cervical cancer, and domestic violence, offering both medical and personal perspectives.
Local and International Voices
Speakers include Estika Halley, a St. Maarten resident, who will courageously share her personal journey as a survivor of domestic violence, alongside Rashida Boyrard of Safe Haven SXM, a critical voice in advocacy and support services on the island.
Medical insight will be provided by esteemed gynaecologists:
- Dr. Dorenda van Dijken from the Netherlands
- Dr. Igor Gomez Bravio from Curaçao
The event will be emceed by Rebecca Low, a past president of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, who also served as a former assistant governor and district trainer for Rotary District 7020.
Partnerships for Public Wellness
This community-driven event is made possible through a key partnership between the Windward Island Medical Association (WIMA), Nagico Insurances and Social & Health Insurance SZV who are coordinating efforts to bring in specialists not just to update local healthcare professionals, but also to engage the wider public in vital health conversations.
Since these experts are already on-island for professional development sessions, Rotary Club thought why not also give the community a chance to benefit.
Generous Community Support
The initiative is supported by a long list of sponsors including:
Nagico Insurances, SZV (also live-streaming the event), Windward Islands Bank, St. Maarten Medical Center, NASKHO, APS, Dopsies, Sonesta Resorts, IGY Marina, Winair, Health Care Laboratory, Aventa, AstraZeneca, and Orco Bank.
Adelena Chandler, the current Wellness Chair and incoming Rotary President said, “I am proud to invite the women, spouses and the community to this wonderful and informative event.” The current Rotary Club President Jeffrey “Dr. Soc” Sochrin, now concluding his second consecutive year of service as President, emphasised the significance of this public gathering: “This event is not just about health; it’s about empowering our women, honouring their experiences, and giving our entire community a chance to learn, share, and grow.” Both Chandler and Sochrin are extremely grateful on behalf of the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten for all the sponsors and the guest speakers involved to make this event a success!
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early as the event will begin promptly at 7:00pm, and ample free parking is available at the venue. For more details, visit www.rotarysxm.com.
