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All Woman
WROC's family medical clinic still making an impact
By TAMARA SMITH
Monday, June 29, 2009
YEARS after committing to making a difference in the lives of women, the Women's Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC), located on Beechwood Avenue in Kingston, continues in its effort to impact the lives of families through its health and wellness programmes.
The family medical clinic is one such venture.
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| Dr Venice Bernard-Wright talks to a patient. |
The clinic provides comprehensive health care for the entire family and is held at the centre twice weekly - Wednesdays and Fridays. On a Wednesday, registration begins at noon and the clinic ends at 4:30 pm; while on Fridays, the hours are between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.
The centre is, however, quick to reassure that the day ends after the last patient has been seen.
"Sometimes we are there until 6:30 pm when we are finished with the last patient," said Dr Venice Bernard-Wright, the in-house general practitioner who has been with the centre since 2001.
Although the majority of the visiting patients are women, the clinic also accommodates men.
"For a long time everybody thought this was a women's centre ,but we cater to the whole family - men, women and children," said Dr Bernard-Wright.
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| Another patient getting weighed (Photos: Tamara Smith) |
The patients who visit the clinic are noted regulars from within the Beechwood Avenue area and surrounding communities. Dr Bernard-Wright describes the patronage of the clinic as a community venture and muses that over the years the number of patients has duly increased.
"When I started, I worked one day per week, but now I work twice per week," she stated.
According to nurse Olive Richards, who has worked with the clinic for 10 years, the clinic may see as much as 30 patients on a regular day.
Tracey-Ann Collins, 38, has been visiting the centre since 1999.
"It is in my area and saves me more time and expense which I would spend if I went elsewhere," she shared. "I feel comfortable coming to the clinic and seeing the doctor. We are treated with respect, so I find the service good."
Another clinic regular, Stacey, echoed Collins' sentiment.
"The doctor is nice and wonderful. Whenever I or my children get sick, I visit the clinic. It's close [to my home], the service is good and I am treated well."
The most common conditions treated include osteo-arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory tract infection (RTI), skin diseases (fungal diseases and scabies), female vaginal infections and sexual transmitted infections (STI).
Earlier this year, WROC celebrated 25 years of providing the members of its client community with health, wellness, personal and livelihood programmes.
These included emphases on the family medical clinic, homework centre, CXC classes and livelihood training aimed at promoting sustainable development.
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