MAY PEN, Clarendon — Seventy eight year-old Dudley Bartley was among 100 residents of Gravel Hill who benefited from a health and information fair hosted by Jamalco in that community recently, according to a news release from the bauxite/alumina company.

A smiling Bartley walked out of the building following his examination by Emergency Medical Technician David Raby, saying “My blood pressure and blood sugar are good, and that’s what I wanted to hear so now I can eat some mangoes.”

Community leader Percival Brown who also benefited from the event said, the residents have heaped kudos on Jamalco for bringing health care to their doorsteps. He pointed out that a “number of residents especially the senior citizens are unable to find the taxi money and other cost associated with travelling to May Pen for medical care and so they took full advantage of the opportunity to see a doctor right there in their community.

The residents were screened for several medical conditions including high colesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and impaired vision by Doctor Jewell Hayman and Nurses and EMT from Jamalco’s medical department.

The health fairs are geared at assisting residents in Jamalco’s operating areas who cannot afford the cost of proper health care.

Senior Community Relations Officer Phillip Biggs who coordinated the event explained that the residents look forward to these health fairs. “The economic challenges force residents to put their health on hold and in some cases this continues until there is a crisis. It is for this reason why these community health fairs are so popular and the residents really appreciate our efforts,” Phillip noted.

The residents also benefitted from information provided by a number of participating agencies including the Registrar General Department (RGD), Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Clarendon 4H Club, National Youth Service (NYS) Child Development Agency (CDA) Ministry of Labour and Social Security, National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Home Nutrition Beauty and Gifts and the Clarendon Police Community Safety and Security unit.