More than 10,000 residents in St Catherine, Clarendon and Manchester have been assisted with care packages and other support by the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) of Seventh-day Adventists.

At the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the

organisation established a programme where the weekly needs of its members and

community persons were assessed and responses made to the neediest across the

three parishes.

President of the CJC, Pastor Levi Johnson, told JIS News

that all the pastors in the 54 pastoral districts, the community service

leaders, and the parish action development committees have been placed on a

mission of care, compassion, connection, safety and love.

“All that we do during this crisis will be cushioned from

that platform…wherever the needs are, and funds are available, this is what we

intend to do through this crisis. We are one family; look out for each other, as

if one person should be negligent, it will not only affect us, it will affect

the entire nation,” he said, while calling for adherence to instructions from

the Ministry of Health and Wellness, to prevent the spread of the virus.

He said a decision was made to allocate sums of money to reach the communities, as members faced great difficulties. “We also heard the cries of the community at large, and we said to our pastors that we want them to zero in on the most vulnerable with distribution of food supply in the three parishes,” he said.

The group has also set up a hotline with one medical doctor

and two clinical psychologists, to provide medical advice and counselling to

members of the public who are concerned or affected by COVID-19. Interested

persons can call (876) 578-4450, (876) 527-4598, and (876) 578-5618.

Pastor Johnson added that the H.S. Walters Health Centre,

operated by the Conference and located in Sydenham, St. Catherine, is open

every day, providing services at reduced costs, and where persons cannot pay, “they

will get the services”.