MEMBER of Parliament Dr Dayton Campbell has undertaken the fourth staging of a series of health fairs in several communities across his constituency in a bid to save parents the expense of medical for their children as they prepare for back to school .

The health fair series which started on July 6 will continue until August 27.

Campbell, a medical doctor, said the average number of students seen in small communities is between 40 and 60, while over 200 students are seen in some of the larger communities.

“Monday we were in Free Hill, a place where we normally see about 40 persons, and we saw over 100 persons, so it has been going well,” he told the Jamaica Observer North East last month, while attending to students at the health fair at the Salem New Testament Church of God in Runaway Bay.

The health fairs have been strategically positioned to allow access to all children across the constituency; however, more communities have since been added to the schedule.

“A few persons called asking why we are not coming to their community, so we have added a few,” he said, adding that the number of communities where the medical will be done across the constituency has grown based on the demands of the residents.

“Now that Parliament is out, we have added the Tuesdays, (so) we will have about 35 communities in all,” he explained.

Campbell said the health fairs were held on weekdays excluding Tuesdays. However, with Parliament now on break, Tuesdays will be included.

Although the health fairs are being held for the children, Dr Campbell said there are days when adults turn up to be seen by a doctor.

“Anybody comes it is kind of difficult to tell them no; so you have some location where we go, where you have adults come in who want to have their blood pressure checked and other things like that, and who wants to see a doctor to raise concerns, to ask a question… We have to accommodate them,” he said.

Dr Campbell said he is the only doctor who works at the smaller locations; however, for the larger communities, he has up to five doctors volunteering.

“We have two nurses: Nurse Itene Francis, who is a registered nurse, and we have Nurse Denise Campbell, who is a practical nurse,” he said, explaining that there are also several other volunteers who are not medical professionals assisting the team.

Dr Campbell said members of his team give of their time freely, even paying their way to the different locations.

“We really want to commend them for putting out the effort…volunteerism is not dead. I think people recognise that we are trying to assist and they do want to give their contribution,” he said.

Other than writing prescriptions for those who require it, Dr Campbell said some medication were also available at the health fairs.

“We have a few medication for cough, cold, and those other things that we give to them,” he said.

Parents have expressed their appreciation for the venture, saying it has helped many who would have had to find money for their children to go to the doctor.

“We do appreciate the health fair. It’s cost-saving and it’s really helpful. We really appreciate things like this,” Jacqueline Rhoades, one parent said.