FOR parents preparing their children for the start of a new school year, getting a medical examination can mean taking time off work and spending several hours waiting at a health centre with their children.

But for close to 170 residents of Maverley and surrounding communities, many of those essential services were brought together under one roof at the 15th annual Maverley Health Fair, hosted by the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights recently at Maverley Primary and Infant School.

Children were able to receive medical examinations from volunteer medical doctors, dental screening and cleaning, and vision screening. In addition to those services, adults had access to doctors for blood pressure and blood sugar checks, as well as HIV and STI testing and education courtesy of the Centre for HIV/AIDS Research and Education Services.

The Lions Club of St Andrew provided the vision screening as part of its partnership with the Rotary Club, and a local mission of FLOSS International — led by Dr Ajani Blake — provided dental services for the sixth year.

People who attended the health fair were particularly pleased with the convenience and quality of the services. They noted that without the fair they would have had to take their children to the health centre where they could have spent several hours waiting to be served, taking them away from a full day of work.

Dr Tiffany Hunter, a member of the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights, examines a child during the 15th staging of the club’s health fair for residents of Maverley and neighbouring communities recently.

“The service for medicals went smooth,” said Sherricka Johnson whose children attend Maverley Primary and Infant School, although it was her smaller cousins who she chaperoned at the event.

“Dental, there was a little hiccup there but there wasn’t nothing too much that couldn’t be handled. Overall, the service was great. The team was great— well ‘mannersable’ — they were polite and everyone greet you with a smile,” added Johnson.

But the event’s real impact was in the accessibility to health services that it provided for the residents.

“Most of the people that is here work, so they don’t get the time to visit the health centre to do service,” Johnson explained as she pointed out that most residents access services from two health centres — the Drewsland Health Centre in the neighbouring community, and the Duhaney Park Health Centre which is much further away.

“So, you [Rotary Club] coming here — and the residents were hearing the announcements from a month ago that you’re coming — many planned definitely to be here. Many of the parents I know took the time out from work to be here. And it benefit the school a lot because many of the students I know who attend the school, I see here today,” Johnson noted.

President of the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights Junior Buchanan said the health fair was designed to remove these practical barriers that can prevent families from accessing essential health care.

“The value of this health fair is that we bring these services directly to the community and make it easier for families to get the care they need. For parents, particularly those who are working, being able to have their children seen by a doctor, dentist, and have their vision tested in one place can make a significant difference.

“After 15 stagings we continue to see the importance of this initiative, and we are very pleased that so many children and adults were able to benefit this year,” said Buchanan.

He expressed gratitude to the many sponsors and partners who made the health fair possible. Cari-Med provided supplies for the medical and dental teams; along with packages of Colgate toothbrushes, mouthwash and toothpaste for the children.

Benjamins also provided supplies for the doctors and dentists, while Lasco supplied beverages and World Foods provided snacks for the children. Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Western Dwayne Smith, in whose constituency Maverley lies, also assisted by providing lunch for the volunteers.

The Rotary Club president also thanked the Lions Club of St Andrew for its support, and the Rotaract Club of St Andrew which provided several volunteers and school supplies for the children.

He also expressed gratitude to community volunteers and friends of the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights who came out to support the initiative. Overall, some 35 volunteers were on hand to deliver the services.

The annual health fair continues to provide an opportunity for families to address their health-care needs as they prepare for the new school year, while bringing together health-care professionals, service organisations, volunteers and corporate partners in support of the Maverley community.