COME Monday, approximately 50 health care volunteers from Atlanta, USA are expected to provide a wide range of free services at a health fair being staged at the St John’s Methodist Church along Humber Avenue in Montego Bay.

The annual fair, which will run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily, has been a fixture in the city’s landscape for the past eight years, and is usually a part of the celebrations that mark city status week. This year’s staging, which will run until October 11, takes on even greater importance as Montego Bay celebrates its 21st year as a city.

The team of volunteers, who will be accompanied by nurses and a pharmacist, will include specialists in the areas of ophthalmology, gynaecology, dentistry, podiatry, pediatrics and internal medicine. The team will be led by Jamaica’s Honorary Consul in Atlanta and Chairman of the Sister Cities Committee, Vin Martin, who is no stranger to Montego Bay having led various trade missions from Atlanta to Jamaica.

Martin last visited Montego Bay two weeks ago when he led a team of medical practitioners who participated in the inaugural staging of the Air Jamaica Health Fair. Air Jamaica has been one of the major sponsors of the Sister Cities Health Mission since its inception. Other major sponsors include the St James Parish Council, under whose auspices the event is being staged, and the Ministry of Health.

According to local chairman of the Sister Cities Committee, Metty Scarlett-Jones, this year the Committee decided to extend the mission from three to four days. Eight community clinics have also been added to the traditionally used health centre.

Community Clinics in Catherine Hall, Granville, Adelphi, Cambridge, Mt Carey, Maroon Town, Spring Field and Montego Bay’s Type Five Clinic, will be visited by the medical team. And despite the recent tragedy in the United States, Martin advised that his team has reaffirmed their commitment to the mission and will all be present as planned.

The St James Health Department, under the leadership of Medical Officer of Health, Dr Abioudun Olukoga, along with senior public health nurses Vivienne Hinds and Madge Wallace, are working alongside the Sister Cities Committee to co-ordinate the clinic programme.

The decision was taken by the Sister Cities Committee to adopt a clinic in Montego Bay with the objective of upgrading the facility to optimum standard. The Montego Bay Type Five facility was selected with priority being placed on bringing the minor operating theatre into full service. The acquisition of an ambulance and other vital equipment is also being planned for this centre.

Scarlett-Jones said that another aspect of this year’s outreach activity is the surgical programme being co-ordinated by Dr Olukoga, which involves the Falmouth Hospital and representatives of the Atlanta medical team. She noted that this is a very exciting year for the Health Mission and the new thrust is in keeping with the celebration of the coming of age of the city of Montego Bay. The Health Mission is only one aspect of the Sister Cities programme as it targets other areas such as education, sports, trade and commerce.

The health fair is supported by the Montego Bay business community with special assistance from Caribic Vacation, St John’s Methodist Health Centre, E1 Greco Hotel, local doctors, nurses and non-medical volunteers, restaurants and hotels.