SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth – For the fourth year in a row, residents of ruggedly mountainous Roses Valley and surrounding communities, close to the south Trelawny border, participated in a health fair organised by the USA-linked Unity Fellowship Jamaica Ministries.

When the Jamaica Observer Central visited on the first day of the three-day health fair at Roses Valley Primary School, scores of people waited for medical assessments and treatment from health care volunteers based locally, as well as from California, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Florida and elsewhere in the United States.

Rev Nevin Powell of Unity Fellowship Jamaica Ministries said diabetes and hypertension were huge problems identified by health teams over the years. A major focus, he said, was for health workers to provide guidance for locals on a healthy diet in order to reduce the high incidence of lifestyle diseases.

A range of medical tests, dental care, as well as medications were available at the latest health fair. The CHASE Fund also came aboard this year as a part sponsor of the event.

Powell — who has ancestral roots in Roses Valley and who started the annual mission in 2015 because of the recognized needs in the community — said harsh economic realities meant the annual health fair remained relevant.

“When you talk to these folks, they tell you some of their challenges. They often have to decide whether or not they see the doctor or have dinner, and so we think it’s important to have all these services here,” he said.

Increasingly, Unity Fellowship is also assisting children in the area with their education. “A lot of children not going to school because of costs; some say they don’t have car fare…” said a concerned Powell.