MAJ Stages Health and Wellness Fair for Persons in Downtown Kingston Business District

Scores of persons in the downtown Kingston business district benefited from health screening during a recent Health and Wellness Fair, organised by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), in the courtyard adjacent to the entity, on Ocean Boulevard.

Services offered included cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar/glucose tests, HIV/syphilis tests, first-aid sensitisation, mental health sessions and dental consultations.

In an interview with JIS News, Director General of the MAJ, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, explained that the entity is playing its part in promoting healthy lifestyles to its staff, stakeholders and the public at large.

“We see it as our corporate social responsibility to facilitate people in downtown Kingston to access free health services, to be able to check their health status, be in the know and start striving for a healthy life,” he said, while highlighting the day’s theme, ‘It’s never too late to get healthy – start today’.

The Director General expressed gratitude to all participants for a successful event.

Peer Navigator, Prevention Specialist at the Centre for HIV/AIDS Research Education and Services (CHARES), at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Odail Neil, explained that CHARES is a department of the UHWI, a Centre of Excellence, which provides services to persons living with HIV as well as prevention services to help persons to remain negative.

On the day, the Department promoted safer-sex activities, which involves condom usage, sticking to one faithful and uninfected partner and being responsible regarding sexual behaviours and practices.

Mr. Neil said persons were also introduced to the new prevention method, the pre-exposed prophylaxis (PREP), which is a tablet that is taken daily to reduce the chances of getting infected with HIV by up to 99 per cent. Senior Case Officer at the Administrator General’s Department, Lotoya Williams, explained that the Department is on a campaign to bring its services to the public and did not hesitate to accept the MAJ’s invitation to participate.

Patrons attending the all-day event also received important information from the Department on matters such as estate planning, will-making, funeral expense advance and transfer of a motor vehicle to the spouse of a deceased person.

Other exhibitors included the South East Regional Health Authority, the National Health Fund, the Diabetes Association of Jamaica, the Jamaica Red Cross and the National Housing Trust.