NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Medical officer for Westmoreland Dr Marcia Graham has urged women in the parish to undertake pap smears, which is a test carried out on a sample of cells from the cervix to check for abnormalities that may be indicative of cervical cancer.

“We have had a reluctance on the part of many women in doing their pap smears, and this has resulted in us having unfortunate cases, and some fatal of cervical cancer in women of childbearing age and so we are encouraging persons to have their pap smears done,” Graham told journalists following a dedication ceremony for a community dental and women’s health clinic and an ambulance in Negril on Saturday.

The clinic was created from a retrofitted trailer container placed on the compound of the Negril Health Centre, while the ambulance is a retrofitted Toyota Hiace bus.

The project was made possible by the Jamaicans Abroad Helping Jamaicans At Home (JAHJAH) Foundation and supported by a number of partners, including the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Rotary Club of Negril, and the Negril Chamber of Commerce.

According to Graham the community was in need of the clinic.

“We are excited about the women’s health clinic because it is one of the goals of the Ministry of Health this year to increase the number of pap smears that we have done,” stated Graham.

He thanked JAHJAH Foundation on behalf of the Westmoreland Public Health Services and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, as he noted that dental care, which was not offered fully in Negril in the past, is in high demand.

“There are one or two days when the dentist would have come and used a room over by the health centre to do some initial screening, but with the facilities here now…we can not only do the screening but also the cleaning and other in-depth dental care services that are needed,” added Graham.

In the meantime president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce and director of the Rotary Club of Negril, Elaine Allen Bradley, shared with people at the dedication ceremony a conversation she had with a dentist from JAHJAH medical mission, who she said pointed out that Jamaicans tend to have stronger gums than Americans.

“I find that very strange. She said that in America, when they do dental care, a lot of the patients have caries [tooth decay], but here, maybe one or two. So, that means, rather they are eating healthier or they are caring for their mouth,” said Allen Bradley.

She pointed out that adults who attend the Negril clinic will receive free services along with an oral kit to take home. The service will also be free for children who will leave with an oral kit and a toy.

“So, we are not just cleaning the mouth and leaving them. We are dealing with the human side of everything, making sure they are comfortable. Making sure they get as much as they need. “Get fluoride treatment and receive tuition on how to brush their teeth,” added Allen Bradley, a retired registered nurse.

The JAHJAH Foundation has been working on three projects in Jamaica: dental care, cervical cancer screening, and Jamaica Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) Negril.

It is funded primarily through two fund-raisers: a summer cruise and a gala. The foundation is also supported by Jamaican-owned businesses in New York.

“I would like to encourage folks to that when they see the name JAHJAH Foundation, just know that we are here to serve and serve the people of Jamaica. And whatever donations you can give, if you can’t give a donation, maybe you have a boss who has a few dollars to share or spend. Tell them, ‘hey, how about donating to JAHJAH Foundation because they seem to be doing great work on the island’,” said Dr Trevor Dixon, founder and CEO of the foundation.