River Plate Adventist University, a Seventh-day Adventist school in Argentina’s state of Entre Ríos, was recently awarded an official certification as the first “Healthy University” in the country. The school is now the first of its kind to receive such a title by government health officials in the South American nation of 42 million.
In an October 16 ceremony at the School of Health Sciences on campus, university leaders and top regional health officials signed a document attesting the school’s official new designation. University leaders said the move was another milestone for this 116-year-old institution and its longstanding advocacy of a comprehensive and proactive Seventh-day Adventist approach to health.
During the ceremony, the Department of Health of Argentina was represented by, among others, Dr. Maria Cristina Cipolla, the regional coordinator of Health Projects for the Office of Health Promotion and Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention; and by Dr. Hugo Cettour, secretary of Health of the Province of Entre Ríos.
“This is a very important moment, being the first university in the country to be awarded this recognition,” said Cipolla, just before signing the documents. “What we are about to do here is just a symbol, because we know that the work you accomplish in this school is well beyond any formality.”
Cettour said he felt “doubly honored” to be involved in the ceremony both as a citizen and government official.
“For many years we have been stressing the need of working on healthy individuals so as to prevent them from getting sick,” Cettour said. “This university is well known for the quality health services provided by its students and graduates in the region and beyond.
While university officials said they felt the new status was a landmark, Academic Vice President Victor Armenteros made it clear the designation is is also a great responsibility.
“This new status provides us with a higher benchmark, which we will strive to keep,” Armenteros said. At the same time, he acknowledged that the achievement doesn’t take place in a vacuum, but is another step for the school and the Church to promote a comprehensive approach to healthful living.
Milton Mesa, dean of the university’s School of Health Sciences, concurred with Armenteros’ assessment.
“The school is not isolated in its endeavors; it is part of a system which makes the best efforts to do good to people, which strives to move forward in an environment that fosters a desire to serve.”
The new designation cements the school campus reputation as a place where not only formal but also informal health education takes place. As in most Seventh-day Adventist schools, a significant percentage of students, faculty and staff devote part of their time to physical, service, and devotional activities. The alcohol- and tobacco-free campus provides students with green and open spaces that motivate reflection and prayer opportunities.
Dr. Horacio Gimenez, coordinator of Non-Communicable Diseases Control in Entre Rios, said his goal was for other universities to reach the same status. “We would like them to start promoting a healthy lifestyle not only in their campuses, but also in the communities around them,” he said.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has long advocated for a healthful lifestyle, and for using a comprehensive health ministry as a way of sharing God’s love with people of every social and religious background.
River Plate Adventist University is a coed educational institution founded in 1898 by Seventh-day Adventist European immigrants in the hills of Entre Rios, a few hours north of the capital city of Buenos Aires. For decades, the school has been known as a seedbed of service-driven professionals and missionaries, many of whom continue to serve on six continents. The university has more than 2,500 students from 50 countries and offers 30 undergraduate and graduate degrees in health sciences, business, education and theology.
—Oscar Gonzalez contributed to this story.