Approximately 150 children benefited from free medical checks at a health fair staged Tuesday by the Indian High Commission in Jamaica in collaboration with the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew and Global Health Care at Laura’s Basic School in Duhaney Park, St Andrew.

Central to the health fair was Dr Nagamalleswara Rao Chandolu, head of Global Health, who told the Jamaica Observer that it was the brainchild of India’s High Commissioner to Jamaica Mayank Joshi.

“We gave almost 150 children tonic and we gave de-worm medication to everybody. Usually we get medications from the companies, but personally I sponsored all these de-worm medication. I bought it through Chandolu Global Health Care and I provided them. We did sugar tests, haemoglobin, and urine tests,” Dr Chandolu said.

“We had around 10 different companies, all Indian pharmaceutical companies, that donated a lot of other medication for this one. Usually we do eye check-up and provide free frames. Today we have an eye doctor here through Global Health Care. We had an optometrist from Cuba who did the eye check-ups and about 20 people had eye and vision problems, so we provided the frames and the lens also,” he added.

He said the worm medication was necessary as the infection is common among children.

“Because of worm, they can develop anaemia, low blood count. Because of that they will get sick with coughing, cold, and sinus. For the most common diseases, the starting point is worm. So that’s why I initiated de-worming,” Chandolu said.

“I gave everybody tonic also. This will build children with anaemic conditions and then balance them with vitamins so their immune system can fight any disease. Every six months to one year, at least, you are supposed to de-worm the children. It will build them,” he advised.

Dr Chandolu, who this year was vested with the Order of Distinction for his contribution to the field of medicine in Jamaica, described the health fair as very satisfying because of its direct impact on children, as they also received free dental examinations and medication where necessary.

The health fair was the 50th of its kind to be hosted in Jamaica by Global Health since 2020.

Sherrell Wilson, president-elect of the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew, expressed gratitude for the partnership with Global Health and the Indian High Commission, saying it augers well for the mission of Kiwanis International which celebrates its 110th anniversary this year.

“Very importantly, there is a part of the Kiwanis club dedicated to children who are zero to six years old, which is why we have been working with Laura’s, Red Hills, and the Cooreville Gardens Basic schools for over 40 years,” Wilson told the Observer.

There is an arm called Young Children Priority One which I am head of, and I am a director as well. We are looking for early diagnosis, testing, and evaluation of children in education so that we can do the assessment and make sure that we have a proper curriculum that is designed to help children maximise on their potential,” she explained.

“This year we celebrate 110 years, and this is a global movement that we can all strive to be a part of. We want to continue with this partnership with the Early Childhood Commission in order to do more collaborative work with educational testing. We see the value in that and we are particularly interested because it is a vehicle to assist students from early before they get lost in any system at all. With that they can maximise their God-given gifts,” Wilson said.

The success of the health fair delighted Laura’s Basic School Vice-Principal Michelle Dixon, who said it gives schools hope to know that corporate Jamaica and the clubs actually care for the early childhood education sector.

“I really want to partner even further in the best interest of the children and as a motivator of the staff that is here, that people out there really care; and with them having our backs, we can look for greater things to happen for the early childhood sector,” she said.

“I was even more glad to see that the Early Childhood Commission came out in support of this. The feedback from the parents, they were really glad for today. It gave them hope,” she said, noting that the health fair helped to lift spirits in the face of the damage inflicted on the country by Hurricane Melissa in late October.

“Melissa left a lot of people daunted, but trust me, I am going to my bed feeling really good this evening,” Dixon said.

Indian High Commissioner Joshi said the health fair was organised as part of a joint outreach initiative between the high commission and Indian doctors in Jamaica. It was held under the theme ‘Serving the Unserved; Reaching the Unreached; Touching the Untouched’.

“India and Jamaica share deep-rooted historical, cultural, and people-centric relations, grounded in common democratic values, Commonwealth partnership, Caricom engagement, and a shared love for cricket. Such outreach initiatives further reinforce the enduring friendship between the two countries,” Joshi said.

Peadiatrician Dr Bhasker Goud gives advice to the mother of a child who attended a health fair at Laura’s Basic School in Dunahey Park, St Andrew. The health fair was staged by the Indian High Commission in Jamaica, the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew, and Global Health Care.

Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica Mayank Joshi (ninth right) with members of the Global Health Care team as well as members of the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew on Tuesday at a health fair for students of Laura’s Basic School in Duhaney Park, St Andrew.

Maurice Livingstone (left), president of the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew, greets Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica Mayank Joshi at Tuesday’s health fair in Duhaney Park.