WESTERN BUREAU — Sixty-six year-old Lynette Hutchinson was among the more than 3,000 persons who last week benefited from the 10th annual Atlanta/Montego Bay Sister Cities health mission, held in St James.

For her, the 50-member team from Atlanta was a dream come true. For more than 10 years now, the Hanover resident has been suffering from arthritic pains and has been to several doctors for treatment.

But the pains have persisted and so, as she sat among the hundreds of persons who flocked the St John’s Methodist Church Hall, she said the health fair was a blessing.

“I give God thanks for this (health fair). Without it, I don’t know how I would manage. Over the years, I have spent almost all of my money going to doctors for treatment but I am still feeling the pains,” she told the Observer.

And she said that she was optimistic that the treatment she received from the doctors — cost free — would give her some relief from the persistent pains.

“I think these doctors will help me to feel better,” she opined.

Ronald Lecky, a 43 year-old taxi operator, echoed similar sentiments.

“I think the health fair is a good thing. A lot of people who can’t afford to go to the doctor now have a chance to see one and get treatment free of cost,” he said, as he waited to see one of the opticians.

Last week, more than 55 health care volunteers offered their services in dentistry, ophthalmology, gynaecology, paediatrics and internal medicine at the church hall while several outreach clinics were held at locations including Maroon Town, Catherine Hall and Salt Spring.

Over the last 10 years the health mission, which forms part of Montego Bay’s city status celebration, medical teams have treated more than 23,000 persons and donated drugs and other supplies valued at $35 million.