Health Team from Atlanta Assisting Thousands in St. James

The annual Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Health Mission is back in the city, with more than 40 medical and non-medical personnel rendering professional services to thousands of citizens in St. James and adjoining parishes.

Comprising specialists in the fields of ophthalmology, gynaecology, obstetrics, paediatrics, internal medicine, dentistry, nursing and pharmacology, the team members are currently at the St. John’s Methodist Church Action Centre in Montego Bay, attending to the health care needs of some 2,000 persons.

Addressing participants at the opening ceremony on October 7, Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Parish Council, Councillor Glendon Harris, commended the medical team for their dedication and commitment to the cause,  which has helped so many persons.

“This health event, which is free to the public, is far reaching and quite impactful.  To date, over 44,000 patients from within St. James and neighbouring parishes have been exposed to the professional medical services provided here year after year, since the inception of the mission (in 1973),” he said.

“Over the past 19 years, approximately $80 million worth of equipment and medicine has been disbursed to the public,” the mayor added.

The visiting health professionals will be supported by local physicians, nurses and other non-medical volunteers. The St. James Health Department is also collaborating with the mission.