Residents of Montego Bay Benefit from Health Mission

An estimated 3,500 residents of St. James benefited from medical services organized recently by the Montego Bay/Atlanta Sister City Health Mission.The annual health fair, now in its 11th year, was part of activities to mark the 24th anniversary of Montego Bay receiving city status.
The team of 50 healthcare volunteers from Atlanta included specialists in the areas of ophthalmology, gynaecology, dentistry, podiatry, pediatrics and internal medicine, accompanied by nurses and a pharmacist. They conducted clinics at community health centres across the parish. The team was led by Jamaica’s Honorary Consul in Atlanta, Vin Martin.
Mr. Martin, who is also Chairman of the Sister City Committee, said that the objective of the project was to deliver quality health care to persons in need “especially after the ravages of Hurricane Ivan”.
“I am pleased to see the level of response from the local populace this year, which is by far greater than we have had in the past years . this is just an incredible show of cooperation,” he said.He thanked the St. James Parish Council, the St. James Health Department, the Customs Department, the Ministry of Finance for facilitating the team.
“The entire body has been quite welcoming and I must commend the local committee, chaired by Metty Scarlett-Jones. They made things happen for the health mission … from my experiences with other groups that come for similar programmes, this is the best organizational structure I have ever worked with”, Mr. Martin pointed out.
He also had high praises for Medical Officer of Health for the parish Dr. Dianne Dale, who worked closely with the Atlanta team to coordinate the programme.