FOR the eighth consecutive year, Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica has partnered with the Lions Club of New Kingston and St Joseph’s Hospital, to host a health fair in St Andrew, which resulted in approximately 600 people benefitting at no cost.

The free health fair took place on Saturday, April 23, on the grounds of St Joseph’s Hospital, in St Andrew.

Those in attendance were given access to general medical examinations, blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, and cholesterol checks, as well as sight screening, hearing examinations, Pap smear tests, and HIV tests.

In addition to this, people were given the opportunity to donate blood, receive counselling, and attend weight management and nutritional sessions. The National Health Fund and the Registrar General’s Department, along with representatives from the Ministry of Health, were also there to educate patrons about H1N1 and the Zika virus.

Chairman of FFP, Andrew Mahfood, during his address at the health fair, stated that the charity and its partners remain committed to bettering the lives of Jamaicans. He also used the opportunity to encourage Jamaicans to come together and help to be a part of the solution.

“I believe that today’s health fair is a good demonstration of what we can do when we come together as a country. I thank the sponsors for their partnership, St Joseph’s Hospital and the staff here at Our Lady of the Poor Clinic, who give free care here every single day,” Mahfood said.

The Lions Club, widely known for their dedication to sight preservation, offered free eye screening with assistance from the Diabetic Association and the club’s New Kingston, Mona, St Andrew, and downtown Kingston chapters.

“We felt it very important to come out in full force this year because we know many persons usually come out for eye screening. Our aim is to serve everyone who wants their eyes tested during this health fair,” said Marjorie James, chairman of the Health and Sight Committee of the Lions Club of New Kingston, in her address at the health fair.

The management, administrators and staff members of St Joseph’s Hospital, which is now 100 years old, celebrated their milestone at the event with those in attendance.