Child guidance clinic for Steer Town
STEER TOWN, St Ann — The Steer Town Health Centre here last week received a major boost from the Joan Duncan Foundation, an affiliate of Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB).
The foundation, named in honour of JMMB founder the late Joan Duncan, furnished and equipped three rooms at the facility which are to be used as the child guidance clinic to the tune of over $200,000. The donation, which included a 21″ flat screen television, DVD player, a computer and printer, a microwave, a living room suite, tables, and leatherette chairs, was made during a short ceremony at the clinic.
In handing over the items, Branch Manager at JMMB Ocho Rios Horace Wildes spoke glowingly of Duncan’s dream, faith and imagination and said the donation was a manifestation of what she wanted to achieve.
“Even though Joan has passed, her imagination to create goods and services is happening here today,” he said.
“Not only did she have the imagination, she also had the faith and people told her that what she was doing would fail [but] she kept going. We need to have faith. A lot of times we have the idea, but we lack faith,” Wildes said, encouraging community members who were in attendance.
Wildes said the company was pleased to make the donation to the health centre and he encouraged residents of Steer Town to make the best use of the services which will be offered there.
Social worker and Child Guidance representative for the parish, Dahlia Mignott, said the gifts would go a far way in helping to enhance the environment and the services at the facility.
“We can’t stop saying thanks. It’s a well-deserved gift and we really appreciate it,” she said. “Not only will the staff benefit, but our clients will experience a better facility which is conducive to therapy,” she added.
Regional supervisor for Child Guidance and Adolescent Mental Health Services, nurse Hyacinth Samuels, also lauded the foundation, and called on other private sector groups to join the effort to enhance service delivery at the health-care facility. She also used the opportunity to implore members of the community to take care of the facility and not vandalise it.
The Steer Town Child Guidance Clinic provides psychological intervention for children and their families from age 4 – 18. The services include assessment for mental health conditions and learning disabilitites, counselling, health promotions, referrals, and stress management for teachers and health staff.