Jeffery Town residents celebrate first anniversary of clinic

PORT ANTONIO — Scores of residents of Jeffery Town and surrounding communities in St. Mary benefitted from free health checks at a health fair held last Tuesday April 19 on the grounds of the Jeffery Town Health Centre.

The event, which was organised by the St. Mary Health Department to mark the first anniversary of the opening of the health facility, included blood sugar and blood pressure checks, cancer screening, and tests for HIV and eye diseases.

Information on social service programmes including the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), was also provided.

The day-long celebration included an entertainment package with students of Tacky High School, Jeffery Town Primary School, and members of the Jeffery Town Senior Citizens Association delighting the audience with a number of cultural performances.

Parish Manager for the St. Mary Health Services, Dr. Isaac Brown, who addressed the opening ceremony, expressed gratitude to the Government for constructing the clinic in the community, and thanked the residents for their support of the fair.

He said that the major objective of the event was to impress upon the residents, the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and to encourage regular use of the clinic to ease the pressure on the hospitals.

Dr. Brown noted that Jamaica has a highly rated primary health care system, which can compare favourably with those in most countries. He gave the commitment of the St. Mary Health Service to providing the best quality health care for the people of the parish.

A number of the residents, who turned out for the event, expressed gratitude to the St. Mary Health Services for the free health tests, and pledged to make a special effort to embrace healthy lifestyle habits.

By ASTON G. BAILEY, JIS REGIONAL OFFICE