NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Children with physical disabilities across the island, who have been utilising the Negril Paediatric Orthotic Clinic for the past 10 years, will now have access to an additional service — physiotherapy.

It will be offered from a retrofitted trailer on the grounds of the Negril Health Centre. The physio department was officially opened Tuesday as part of a wider initiative to rename Negril Paediatric Orthotic Clinic as the Elaine Allen Bradley Paediatric Orthotic Foundation Physiotherapy Service.

Allen Bradley — a retired Jamaican registered nurse from the United Kingdom — is the clinic’s founder. The change of name was made possible by RIU Hotel which has been supporting the clinic that, since 2010, has offered its services free of cost to children in need.

“We are incredibly proud to support this foundation as it expands its services to offer physiotherapy care, a step that will provide an even more comprehensive and holistic support for children in need. This milestone would not be possible without the incredible work and heart of Mrs Elaine Allen Bradley,” stated corporate social responsibility (CSR) officer at RIU Hotel Jamaica Crisina Campbell.

“For over 15 years Ms Elaine has been a tireless advocate for children with physical challenges and today we honour her. Her dedication has changed lives, given families hope and created a legacy of compassion that now continues through the rebranding of this foundation,” added Campbell.

The sentiments were shared by two women whose children have benefitted from the clinic. Racquel Chambers is the mother of eight-year-old Wyatt Montague from Christiana, Manchester, who was born with a condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC).

“I was told that he might not walk. l was recommended to come to the clinic down here and I got braces. About a week or so after he started wearing the braces, he started to walk,” stated Chambers.

Her child has been through six surgeries that go hand in hand with the braces and he currently has another surgery scheduled for the latter part of this year.

“I really appreciate this clinic because when I go to other areas I have to buy the braces. I was glad when I came here and they could address it for me,” stated Chambers, who noted that the last estimate she received elsewhere for customised braces was in the region of $88,000.

Aeyesha Robertson is the mother of two-year-old Xavier Taylor from St Mary, who suffers from a birth defect called spina bifida, hydrocephalus and club foot. Robertson said she has been receiving help at the Negril clinic since 2023 after receiving a referral from Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew.

On Tuesday Allen Bradley, who expressed her gratitude to all who made the clinic possible, spoke of the joy she experiences from helping children.

“Even this morning, as I opened the door, the first person who ran and hugged me was Wyatt. Many of my patients are like that and that is what gives me the courage to go on,” she said.

Allen Bradley added that, apart from the services offered at the clinic, diapers are also provided to children who require them because of their health condition.

Medical officer of health for Westmoreland Dr Marcia Graham, who works out of the Westmoreland Health Department, spoke of the impact the expanded services will have.

“We welcome the addition of the physiotherapy service because, unfortunately, the parish is no stranger to motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents and we have several orthotic injuries that resulted in these in addition to other injuries that might be congenital,” she said.

“We realised that this physiotherapy addition is well needed as part of the rehabilitation for persons who have been so injured,” added the medical officer who noted that the Savanna-la-mar Public General Hospital currently has several clients from the Negril area.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, in his keynote address, congratulated RIU and Allen Bradley for her amazing work.

“This is an important initiative. In fact, I believe there is only one other of this kind of service being offered on the island. Not that private citizens can’t go and secure the service, but when it comes to volunteerism, and when it comes to having access without paying, this is the facility that gives the standard by which Jamaica and the Caribbean should adopt and emulate,” said Tufton.

He stressed that the project could not have existed without sponsors and volunteers.

“Health and wellness can only be fully realised in terms of its optimal potential if you work with each other to make it work. There is no other way. You know, as a Government, we have a responsibility to provide health services to our population. People pay taxes and they expect that. But even with more generous expenditure around health services, it just can’t work if everybody does not share in the vision and partnership. And indeed, we recognise that the underlying principle of health and wellness starts with caring for humanity,” added Tufton.