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Children of Hope Foundation Stages Health Fair in Gregory Park

Local Government
August 18, 2015
Written by: Chad Bryan

Story Highlights

  • Nonprofit organisation, Children of Hope Foundation, in partnership with the Social Development Commission (SDC), treated adults and children to a health fair and fun day at the Gregory Park Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine, on August 13.
  • Adults, who brought along their children, were able to take advantage of free medicals, in time for back-to-school.
  • Other health checks, such as blood pressure and free HIV testing, were also performed by health practitioners.

Nonprofit organisation, Children of Hope Foundation, in partnership with the Social Development Commission (SDC), treated adults and children to a health fair and fun day at the Gregory Park Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine, on August 13.

Adults, who brought along their children, were able to take advantage of free medicals, in time for back-to-school.

Other health checks, such as blood pressure and free HIV testing, were also performed by health practitioners.

Vice-Chairman of Children of Hope Foundation, Sean Barrow, noted  that representatives from the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH), where parents signed up to get assistance for their children; the Registrar General’s Department, the Tax Administration as well as the Portmore Community College, were also on hand.

Mr. Barrow, who is the Civil Servant of the Year 2014/15, said that families whose  homes  were destroyed by fire, were presented with toiletries and other items to make them feel more comfortable.

“Packages of clothing and food stuff were handed out. The clothing was made possible by Hope Alive Ministries in England. Seven barrels of clothing were sent out. We also put together food items, among other things, to put in the packages,” he pointed out.

Mr. Barrow said his decision to get involved in the project, which has been going on for the past 10 years, resulted from his constant involvement in outreach activities within his community.

At a second event to be held in the area on August 29, community members who did not get a chance to see certain professionals, will be given an opportunity to do so.

Based in Portmore, St. Catherine, Children of Hope Foundation was founded by Evette McKenzie Blake. Operating for approximately 15 years, the organisation sought to assist children in the Gregory Park community with home work, but after a period of time expanded its reach and began to provide cheap, nutritious meals for students attending the home work centre.