NEGRIL, Westmoreland — NEWLY installed president of the Rotary Club of Negril, Elaine Allen-Bradley, says the hosting of eye and dental clinics will be among the initiatives she plans to undertake during her term in office.

She added, however, that the club will continue to offer programmes initiated by previous administrations, including the upgrading of schools in the Negril area and the provision of financial assistance for needy students.

Allen-Bradley explained that the eye-testing project, which will be held under the theme: “See Better, Learn Better,’ was scheduled to be implemented last year.

However, she said, it failed to get off the ground because of a lack of funding.

“Just over a year ago we got a grant to buy a school bus, and last year we got US$35,000 from Rotary International to operate three basic schools. So we couldn’t really approach them (Rotary International) again, because it would be like our club getting all the funds,” explained Allen-Bradley.

She noted that an eye-testing machine has already been secured by a donor in the United States of America for US$7,000, adding that the club is now trying to source the funds to purchase the glasses.

“Because this donor in the States, Corner Stone Jamaica, has bought the screening machine for US$7,000, the screening won’t cost us anything, just our time to go to the schools and do the screening. And once we identify that the kids need glasses, we can’t just leave them hanging.”

Last year, Richard Warren, the club’s immediate past president, told the Jamaica Observer West that the eye care initiative was aimed at assisting a number of students, some of whom are not reading as they should.

Allen-Bradley, a native of Negril, who is an overseas-based retired nurse, was installed as president recently during the club’s 11th installation of directors function held at the Sea Star Inn, West End Road in Negril.