DUMFRIES, St James — Residents of the Dumfries community in St James last Friday came in groups of threes and more to take advantage of the complimentary services, at the fourth staging of the annual health and social fair staged by Sandals Resorts, Montego Bay region, in collaboration with the Social Development Commission (SDC) at the Canaan Baptist Church.

Almost 300 adults and 150 children flocked the makeshift clinic to receive free medical care, back-to-school medicals, eye examinations, doctor consultations, and private counselling in nutrition and dietetics.

“We continue to implement this intervention each year because we know there is a need in rural communities such as Dumfries, where the unemployment rate is below average and health services are unattainable, both due to financial restraints and distance. This form of initiative is both timely and convenient as the beneficiaries begin to prepare for back to school,” explained Doreen Chambers, field supervisor at the SDC.

Medical volunteers from Hospiten, the Jamaica Association of Professionals in Nutrition and Dietetics — Ministry of Health and the Cornwall Regional Hospital all came equipped with their sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes and scales to treat the registered patients.

“The volunteers were all extremely patient and amicable. It was a phenomenal day and we are so happy that Sandals and SDC decided to bring this much-needed initiative to our community,” Dumfries resident Elecia Mullings said.

Other partners, such as the Consumer Affairs Commission, Registrar General’s Department, Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education, National Insurance Scheme, and Jamaica Public Service Company, also set up booths to inform residents about financial and social protection services that will prove beneficial regarding improving their quality of life.

Chambers pointed out that just as health services are important, there is a need for these social services as well. Through these services, residents may be able to retrieve information or register for programmes that could assist them in future.

“This annual initiative is a multifaceted one that encompasses all aspects of providing community development and opportunities for financial and social support. It was also important for us to include the Sandals Foundation, who provided school supplies and learning material to assist the parents with preparing for the new school term,” said Ophir Gayle, regional public relations coordinator for Sandals Resorts in the Montego Bay region.

Gayle added that the donations made will benefit more than 500 students in the community.

With its commitment to building communities and improving literacy among youths, Sandals Resorts in the Montego Bay region continues to seek out opportunities to assist at-risk and low-income communities within the area.