KINGSTON, Jamaica — Vendors and shoppers in downtown Kingston received free medical check-ups on Wednesday during a health fair held under the theme “Know Your Numbers”.

The initiative was spearheaded by Dr Jeremiah Augustus of Infinity Medical, who said the outreach was prompted by growing concern over patients visiting the Orange Street clinic with dangerously high blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

According to Augustus, vendors were among those most frequently presenting with these conditions, leading him to organise the event with support from Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Noting that Swaby pushed for the event immediately, Augustus said, “We created the team, and then we reached out to our sponsors, and we reached out to the Ministry of Health, and this is why we are here today.”

Doctors and nurses from both Infinity Medical and the Ministry of Health were on hand to provide screenings, with organisers anticipating a turnout of up to 300 people.

Health Minister Christopher Tufton praised the collaboration, noting that healthcare works best through partnerships. While emphasising that public health centres offer free services, he acknowledged that many Jamaicans struggle to find the time for routine check-ups.

“It is very important that we take screening to the population wherever the population is,” Tufton said.

Downtown vendor Althea Glanville, who is diabetic, welcomed the initiative and encouraged her colleagues to participate.

“Come and get your check-up because you might never know,” she urged.

Beyond screenings, the fair also served as a data-gathering exercise. Nurses conducted interviews with vendors to help compile a pilot report detailing findings such as the number of individuals with elevated blood pressure and the barriers they face in accessing care.

Mayor Swaby expressed satisfaction with the turnout and reiterated plans to expand the project to other areas of Kingston.

“We are bringing the health service to the people,” he said.

Augustus noted that preliminary observations show familiar patterns of high blood pressure, high blood sugar and elevated cholesterol levels. He encouraged Jamaicans to pay attention to changes in their bodies and seek medical advice when necessary.

“Not because you are not sick physically, not because you don’t have any clinical symptoms or physical symptoms, doesn’t mean that it is not brewing,” Augustus said.