TWO long-time friends and medical practitioners, Dr Mickhail Benjamin and Dr Duhaney Johnson, are expanding access to compression therapy for Jamaicans through Uniflo Compression Wear, a Jamaica based medical supply company.

The doctors say they saw a national problem with poor circulation and access to care therapy, and decided to solve it themselves.

Dr Benjamin is a medical doctor with a strong interest in vascular health and preventive care, and Dr Johnson has a strong interest in patient-focused, practical health-care solutions and improving everyday health outcomes. Their work is rooted in real clinical experience and everyday Jamaican life.

Poor circulation is a very common medical condition that occurs when blood does not flow easily from the legs back to the heart. This usually happens when the veins in the legs become weak or damaged and are no longer able to move blood upward efficiently. When this happens, blood begins to pool in the lower legs, leading to symptoms such as ankle swelling, heaviness, aching pain, burning, tingling and numbness, and visible veins. Over time, the skin can become darkened and thickened, dry, cracked and scaly, and slow-healing wounds (known as venous leg ulcers) may develop. In more severe cases, venous leg ulcers can become chronic, infected, and even cancerous.

“Poor circulation is extremely common and affects both people who stand for long periods, example barbers, hairdressers, security guards, chefs, police, soldiers and teachers; and people who sit for long periods, like taxi drivers, truck drivers, office workers and pharmacists,” the doctors explained.

Women, especially, are disproportionately affected by poor circulation, especially during pregnancy.

“Women are twice as likely as men to develop poor circulation in their lifetimes because the female hormone oestrogen encourages the relaxation of blood vessels and this relaxation [leads to] failure of effective one-way flow of the blood in the veins. About 40 per cent of pregnant women will develop poor circulation during gestation, and unfortunately most of them will continue to suffer from it even after pregnancy ends,” they explained.

Other risk factors for poor circulation include family history, exposure to hot temperatures, smoking (especially cigarette smoking), tall stature, obesity, ageing, and limited/reduced mobility.

“Compression therapy, whether in the form of socks, stockings, pantyhose or pneumatic device, is the cornerstone of medical management for poor circulation. It works by gently applying pressure to the legs, which supports the veins and helps blood flow back towards the heart. This reduces swelling, relieves discomfort, and significantly lowers the risk of long-term complications,” the team explained.

However, despite how effective compression therapy is, accessibility to medical grade compression garments in Jamaica has traditionally been limited. And when these products are available, they are often exorbitantly priced and beyond the reach of the average Jamaican.

Uniflo, registered under Uniflo Limited, was created to change this reality.

“We all have veins inside of our bodies. Veins are meant to direct the flow of blood from the feet and legs, back to the heart where it is refreshed with oxygen for redistribution within the body [through arteries],” the two explained. “This pattern of one-way blood flow is coined medically as unidirectional flow. This medical term is what birthed our company’s name, ‘Uniflo’. “

By sourcing medical grade compression socks and stockings directly from overseas suppliers, the friends effectively eliminated the traditional middleman and have created an offering of reliable medical grade compression garments at prices that are affordable and accessible.

“Our goal is to make compression therapy easy to obtain for every Jamaican who needs it, whether for pregnancy related swelling, chronic vein disease, recovery after illness or surgery, or long term mobility challenges,” they said.

In response to patient and caregiver needs, Uniflo has also expanded its offerings to include ripple mattress toppers. These help with evenly distributing body weight for those lying flat across beds, and by extension reduce the pressure on bony areas of the body that have thin overlying skin that is prone to breakdown under pressure. Ripple mattress toppers are especially useful in preventing and managing bedsores.

The friends are both St George’s College alumni, who started practising medicine in 2020. Dr Benjamin grew up in Spanish Town, and said his background, coming from an inner city community, has shaped his passion for improving access to care for vulnerable populations.

Dr Johnson grew up in Portmore, also from humble beginnings.

The two have been close friends since their teenage years, having studied the sciences together in high school. In 2015, they entered medical school together straight out of sixth form after being awarded Government of Jamaica scholarships that cover 80 per cent of medical school tuition. This scholarship is offered only to the top three per cent of students accepted into The University of the West Indies, Mona medical school programme.

Together they bring over a decade of combined clinical experience and medical knowledge.

“Coming from humble beginnings, we are deeply aware of the social and economic challenges faced by many Jamaicans. Our journey reflects a determination not to become statistics of our environments, but to give back through service, innovation, and accessible health care,” they said.

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The friends’ goal is to make compression therapy easy to obtain for every Jamaican who needs it..

Compression wear works by gently applying pressure to the legs, which supports the veins and helps blood flow back toward the heart. .

Dr Mickhail Benjamin (right) and his friend and business partner Dr Duhaney Johnson have been friends since the teen years, and have launched a business together.