PATIENTS at the Trelawny Infirmary in Falmouth were recently pampered by students and lecturers of the University of Technology’s (UTech) Western Campus.

Ahead of the opening of its western campus headquarters at the refurbished Baptist Manse, the infirmary was taken over by lecturers and students of the School of Nursing, the School of Public Health and Health Technology and the College of Oral Health Sciences. They carried out blood sugar and blood pressure tests and did dental cleaning. Some students also applied a coat of badly needed paint to a section of the male ward.

The gesture was welcomed by Acting Assistant Matron Hyacinth Hayden, who said she was grateful for what they had done.

“It is a bold statement to the parish that UTech is also about helping those who cannot help themselves,” said Principal of the UTech’s Western Campus Prof Geraldene Hodelin.

President of UTech Prof Errol Morrison added that the work at the infirmary “was an important outreach of our community service thrust” and “part of the difference we intend to make now that we are here”.

He said that during a visit to the town before the western campus, “we looked at the conditions of the market, the streets, the swamp… and we are putting together a comprehensive report on the public health thrust that is necessary to upgrade Falmouth, because we are here and we are going to make sure hat we do everything to help”.

The efforts, he said, were in keeping with the university’s mandate of “teaching, research and community service”.