MORE than 500 high and primary school students in Clarendon, St Catherine, and St James will benefit from free medical and dental examinations, courtesy of the New Fortress Energy (NFE) Foundation’s annual back-to-school programme.

NFE said the programme is the continuation of a collaboration with school principals, guidance counsellors and community leaders in the respective communities where its has its operations to select top-performing students who are from vulnerable backgrounds and therefore do not have the financial resources to fully prepare for the new school year.

These students were presented with financial aid vouchers, bursaries, scholarships as well as backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming academic year which starts September.

This year, the foundation partnered with several medical and dental service providers in Hayes (Clarendon), Old Harbour Bay and Montego Bay to ensure that students were able to complete their medical and dental checks as required by their schools.

Dr Sherridene Lee, managing director at iDoc Concierge, said: “We’re very happy to be working with New Fortress Energy Foundation again to ensure that students have their medical and dental examinations done for the upcoming school year. As important as it is to have these services done, many parents are not able to afford to pay for it, and so, we commend NFE Foundation for supporting the students and their families in such a meaningful and practical way.”

Meanwhile, Dr Richard Watson and Dr Aujae Dixon, independent doctors from Clarendon, said they were happy to be able to give back to the Hayes community by extending discounted rates to NFE Foundation each year. “It’s important for parents and the schools to know the medical history and condition of new students each year.

For a number of students, this may be their first or only medical examination for the entire year. “We have been partnering with New Fortress Energy Foundation for several years through the Wembley Centre for Excellence in the community, and we’re just very happy that we can continue to give back to the students and families in this way,” said Dr Dixon.

New Fortress Energy Foundation will host its annual back-to-school fairs in Montego Bay, Hayes and Old Harbour Bay on July 31, August 8 and August 9, respectively, where students will be able to take advantage of well-needed services. In addition to medical and dental services, the company is providing financial aid valued at $10,000 each for more than 1,200 students, bursaries valued at $50,000 each for more than 70 high school students, and PEP bursaries of $35,000 for the 60 top performing PEP students. In addition, close to 2,000 students across the three parishes will receive backpacks and other school supplies.

“Back-to-school is known to be an overwhelming and stressful time for parents and families, especially those who do not have all the financial resources to fully prepare their children for school. We are also mindful that several families are now faced with additional expenses with the recent passing of Hurricane Beryl and so, we are happy to be partnering with these amazing medical providers to help ease some of the financial burdens for these families,” said Verona Carter, vice-president at at New Fortress Energy.