MORE than 200 residents of Grants Bailey, a deep-rural community in St Ann, last Thursday received free health services at a fair organised by the St Ann Health Department, and supported by the Sandals Foundation, corporate entities and volunteers.

The ‘one stop’ health fair, held at the Grants Bailey Tabernacle church, offered: blood pressure and blood sugar testing, medical examinations, full pharmacy services, HIV and syphilis testing, immunisation, dentistry, a life skills seminar, and nutrition talks, in addition to the facilitation of enrolment for persons in and around the Grants Bailey community who wished to receive NHF/JADEP cards.

Sandals Foundation representatives took the opportunity to engage with community members and distributed school supplies as well as bed linen to people in attendance.

St Ann Health Department representative Michelle White, who was the main organiser of the event, said she was very happy to see the turnout. “The health department has now revamped outreaches within underserved communities in St Ann and we have now added to our schedule a similar initiative for each quarter, with a complete team to offer the same holistic medical services,” said White.

Dr Deborah Weir, who heads the Ministry of Health’s medical team in St Ann, added: “We recognised that the area was under-served, with a high number of hypertension and diabetes cases [so] it was a great time to provide the care for the patients, and it was indeed an opportunity to serve.”

Dr Weir stated that people diagnosed with diabetes at the fair were treated and referred to the nearest health facilities in either Brown’s Town or the Alexandria Hospital to ensure that they observe and follow through with relevant next steps to improve and maintain their health.

According to Dr Weir, the St Ann Health Department intends to continue partnering with social and corporate groups to bring a wider variety of goods and services to communities in the parish.

Ronald Clarke, an elderly resident of the community, said he walked for more than 30 minutes to visit the health fair and was very happy to see the doctor. “I feel better already,” he said, holding on to tablets prescribed for him.

Joan Nesbeth, 43, said she was thankful to receive all her medication as well as school supplies and bed linens. “I walk wid mi children for over 45 minutes to reach here, but it was an easy walk for us. It was more than three years, she said, that doctors visited. This is a very good day,” she said.

The closest health centre to the farming committee of Grants Bailey, residents said, is located in Watt Town, which is about five miles away.

Commenting on the heath fair, Grants Bailey resident Rosealee Campbell said walking more than one and a half hour to get here to see the dentist was worth every bit of it. “My little girl was having great pain so I was very happy to know that the dentist took care of her, and I was grateful that she also got a brand new school bag filled with school supplies.”

Another Grants Bailey resident, Clifford Campbell, who said he walked for more than two hours through the bush, praised the organisers and sponsors for hosting the health fair. “This is so good, I am very happy for this day. The people are very nice; I got sheet, towel and all my pills. The Lord always provides for us.”

Sandals Foundation representative, Lyndsay Isaacs had high praises for the Ministry of Health team that “brought it all together for such a wonderful cause”. She added: “We are cognisant that primary health care is a very important factor in community development, and with this in mind the Sandals Foundation is committed to playing its role in contributing to healthier and happier communities.

“Today inspired hope for all in attendance; it was definitely worth the two-hour drive from Ocho Rios to be here in the hills of this beautiful farming community at the end of St Ann,” said Isaacs.