PORT ANTONIO, Portland – A number of residents from the parishes of Portland, St Thomas and St Mary are slated to benefit from a free eye clinic, which will be provided by doctors from Voluntary Ophthalmic Services for Humanity (VOSH), an international charity organisation.

The three-day clinic, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Port Antonio, will be held in the town from next Monday to Wednesday.

Dr Satya Parvataneni, past president of the club, told JIS News that screening was being carried out in a number of communities in order to select persons for treatment. Sessions have already been held at Manchioneal and Port Antonio in Portland; Golden Grove, St Thomas, and Annotto Bay in St Mary.

Tests were done in Portland on Wednesday at the Boston Community Centre; the Fellowship Primary and Junior High School yesterday, and more are scheduled for the Hope Bay All-age School today and at the Port Antonio Health Clinic tomorrow.

He said that 500 persons have been screened so far, and it was expected that another 600 persons would be selected to benefit from the services, which will be provided by a team of American doctors.

VOSH is an organisation of optometrists and other interested persons, who are dedicated to providing vision care to people around the world who cannot afford such service.

The mission has been visiting Jamaica biennially since 1984, with thousands of persons having benefited from its services over the years.