OCHO RIOS, St Ann – The St Ann Health Department says it is making itself available to collaborate with community groups, schools and churches in the parish to host health fairs, not only to provide medical attention for residents of communities in the parish, but to educate them on topical health issues through the use of various video presentations.

Donnadean Henry, health education officer at the St Ann Health Department, said that once a request is made through the medical officer, the department is able to mobilise the necessary staff to provide medical care as well as do the various presentations.

The heath department, she said, made it integral to include presentations on various medical or topical issues so that in addition to the medical care, persons can be better informed on the issues affecting them.

“Once we have a health fair it is a usual thing to do these presentations. However, what is discussed is dependent on the requests made,” she said.

Last week, members of the health department visited Camperdown – a deep rural community in the parish – to provide medical check-ups for almost 80 adults and children and to educate them on issues ranging from malaria prevention to HIV/AIDS treatment and care, among other topics.

A number of the residents who attended just to see the doctor and the dentist realised that they did not know enough about malaria or the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS.

“The presentations were very useful and informative, especially about child abuse,” said Aneak Kelly, a resident of the community.

She said the presentation on malaria was especially useful as several of the participants thought that the mosquito carrying the malaria virus could only be found in areas with dirty water. “We didn’t know that they could be anywhere,” she told the Observer.

The health fair, which was hosted in conjunction with the Clover Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church, also informed the residents on the effects and dangers of drug abuse, proper nutrition and child abuse.

The Moneague police were on hand to give a presentation on anti-violence prevention and to familiarise themselves with the residents, as part of the ongoing community policing.

Henry said that although there were no confirmed cases of malaria in the parish, the health department felt it important to inform residents about the parasite so they could take preventative action.

Meanwhile, Sanola Rose, a member of the Clover Hill SDA Church, said members felt it important to have the fair at this time as a number of persons in the community were in need of medical attention. She said although the turnout was not what was expected she was sure those in attendance left feeling more informed on the malaria issue than before.

Persons who were interested in having HIV/AIDS tests done were referred to the Claremont Health Centre.