Scores Benefit from Montego Bay Health Fair

Scores of residents from communities  in Montego Bay, recently benefitted from a free health fair organised by diaspora member and paediatrician Dr. Kingsley A. Thomas.

The event, held at the St. James Parish Church, primarily targeted children and included free medical checks, refreshment and distribution of school supplies and care packages. The adults in attendance also received free health screenings.

The health fair was supported by the St. James Public Health Department and included a  team of volunteers from El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States (US).

Dr. Thomas, who is a native of Montego Bay and owns a medical practice in Michigan in the US, told JIS News that “I’m here to give back a little of what I have”.

“ I’ve always been here and I’ve done it, but not in a professional way. Whatever one can do in life, we do it,” he said.

Dr. Thomas highlighted the importance of ensuring the welfare of children, describing them as “the future of this great nation.”

Manager of the Kingsley  Thomas Medical  Office, Dr. Leonard McLean, said that the outreach focused on the wellbeing of the family as a whole.

“We have health care going on, we have a little sprinkling of counseling going on for the kids and the family. For those who are not here to see the doctor, we can give them a book bag and some care packages that they can go home with,” he pointed out.

He told JIS News that the intention is to continue the outreach and provide additional family services.

“We are doing the kids now, but hopefully, we could have something for the fathers, something for the mothers. It’s not just the kids, it’s the family because family is the foundation,” Dr. McLean said.

Parent, Nickiesha Johnson, shared that she is grateful for the initiative, which spared her the additional expense of a school medical.

“I was actually going to a private doctor to pay for the school medical… so I’m truly grateful for this opportunity. The kids got their  medical done and now they’re in line to get their bags, books and pencils,” she told JIS News.