STEER TOWN, St Ann — Hundreds of St Ann residents and the St Ann’s Bay Hospital last week benefited from a major medical mission undertaken by United States-based Alliance of Jamaican and American Humanitarians (AOJAH).

The mission also introduced to the hospital laparoscopic surgery, a modern surgical technique in which operations are performed through small incisions as opposed to the larger incisions.

Two Sundays ago, the group kicked off the mission with a seminar at the RIU hotel in Ocho Rios where issues such as introduction to laparoscopic surgery, hypertension update and paediatric emergency medicine and the global community were explored.

The laparoscopic seminar was followed by one week of hands-on training of nurses and doctors at the hospital in laparoscopic surgery. The AOJAH also donated a quantity of equipment and supplies which are needed to carry out the procedure to the hospital.

“It actually helps patients to recover faster, they don’t have sores and complications when they get out and they don’t take up hospital space,” AOJAH President Joan Crawford said, adding that the introduction of that type of surgery should go a far way in assisting the hospital’s surgical department.

“They didn’t have it before, so we are introducing it to the hospital,” Crawford, who worked with another US-based group which also introduced the procedure to the Annotto Bay Hospital in St Mary, told the Jamaica Observer North East.

Crawford said in addition to providing equipment and supplies for the laparoscopic surgeries, the hospital would soon receive a quantity of medical supplies.

She explained that a 40-ft container with a quantity of items, including wheelchairs, baby cribs, examination tables, dryers, beds, dialysis machines, among other items, had been shipped off by her and would be donated to the hospital.

The value of the overall donation by the group, Crawford explained, was about US$129,000.

Meanwhile, thousands of US dollars more, she explained, were used to provide medical, dental and optical services to hundreds of residents at several locations across the parish last week.

The group of about 50 volunteers, she said, included paediatricians, physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, dental surgeons, opticians, gynaecologists and nurses, among other support staff.

Clinics were set up here in Steer Town, Bensonton, Walkerswood, Lime Hall, Queenhythe in Discovery Bay, and Watt Town. The group also ran a week-long dental clinic at the St Ann’s Bay Health Centre.

“We were overrun with patients at the dental clinic, so many people need a lot of dental work,” she told the Observer North East.

Some residents, particularly those treated for diabetes and eye diseases, received six to 12 months worth of medication and a large quantity of reading and test glasses were distributed to residents found in need.

“We try to give enough medication to carry the patients through for a while,” Crawford said.

The group, she added, intends to enhance the mission next year.

“We will continue to look at what we can contribute to enhance the laparoscopic surgery,” she added.

She said the education component of the programme, which is done within the schools, would also be strengthened.

One resident of Steer Town, Denise Henry, said the services provided by the group to her community and the parish at large were greatly appreciated.

Henry, who benefited from eye care treatment, said she was also impressed by the professionalism of the group.

“I’m really grateful, the service was good and they deal with us really good,” she said.