KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hundreds of people from communities in Mandeville and its environs received a range of health services during a four-day health and wellness fair hosted recently by Northern Caribbean University (NCU) at its main campus.

A release from the university outlined that health care was provided by a 30-member team of health professionals from the United States of America supported by local practitioners.

The visiting health professionals represented the US-based groups Heart-to-Heart World Mission, House of Shade Ministries as well as Coopers Wellness Centre.

Speaking at the launch of the health fair, NCU President Dr Lincoln Edwards said that the theme, Pathways to a Healthy Lifestyle, was timely and reflected one of the outcomes in the Vision 2030 Jamaica: National Development Plan of ‘a healthy and stable population’.

The NCU president also noted that, according to World Health Organisation statistics, the Caribbean region is now infamous for having the most obese people in the world. “This is a distinction of which we are determined to rid ourselves,” he declared.

Dr Edwards pointed out that the health and wellness fair was in keeping with the Jamaica Union of Seventh Day Adventists’ renewed emphasis on health; and he thanked the medical mission for taking the time to partner with NCU to provide well-needed health care to underserved people.

The university said that the medical mission, which included specialists in cardiology, pulmonology and internal medicine, felt fulfilled that they were able to be of service to people in need of care.

Local medical practitioners included Dr Desmalee Holder-Nivenes, Dr Omar Wellington (gynaecologist) and Dr Khohane-Blake (optometrist).

The health and wellness fair, which ran from November 5 to 11, was attended by local health care providers along with NCU’s Dental Hygiene Department that provided free teeth-cleaning services.

Other local providers included Three Angels Mobile Clinic that provided diagnostic services, the Jamaica Cancer Society, the National Health Fund, Lasco Distributors, Clear Sight Optical, Professional Eye Care, the Manchester Health Department, Cari Med Limited, Food for the Poor, Colgate Palmolive Company, Cornwall Medical Supplies, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, the Diabetes Association of Jamaica, National Council on Drug Abuse, and the National Blood Bank.