The inaugural staging of the St Ann's Bay Hospital Annual Health Fair was a major success with over 500 persons utilising the services offered at Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios earlier this month.

Registered nurse and co-ordinator of the initiative, Tracy Ann Williams, described the turnout as "very great".

This assessment, she said, was based on reports received that persons were waiting at the park hours before the slated start time of the health fair.

The residents, she said, were offered a variety of services free of cost and in a time of great financial crisis, many jumped at the opportunity to not only have health checks done, but to also use the services of the Jamaica Cancer Society, the Heart Institute of Jamaica and the Registrar General's Department which were among several organisations participating in the day's activities.

According to Williams, persons attending the health fair were also able to get their ECG and pap smear examinations done free of cost. And the long lines at the tent where these examinations were being done was evidence that attendees made good use of the service.

The fair held under the theme "Living 50 years and beyond, filling the gap" was also used to educate the public on better health practices.

In light of the large number of suspected cases of dengue fever, a presentation was also done to heighten awareness.