Wellness Centre Opened in Old Harbour

The Old Harbour Church of God of Prophecy in St. Catherine has opened a $2.5 million wellness centre to provide healthcare services to residents of that community, particularly the elderly.

The facility, located at 47 Bowers Drive, is being operated in partnership with the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC).

Myrtle Hutchinson, project committee member, told JIS News that the centre, founded by bishop of the church, Alexander Brown, was designed to cater to the spiritual, social, emotional, and physical needs of the community.

She noted that the facility would incorporate the services of the existing clinic in providing blood sugar and blood pressure checks, weight and urine tests, offer referrals and counselling on proper nutrition. In addition, it will provide day care services and in the long term, establish a home for the aged.

The church’s soup kitchen will also be relocated to the Wellness Centre, where it will be more convenient and better able to serve more people.

Meanwhile, Beverly Hall-Taylor, Executive Director of the NCSC, said that her organization was happy to be a part of the initiative.

“The National Council for Senior Citizens has a health component in its programme and so we are pleased to partner with the Church of God of Prophecy in this establishment of the Wellness Centre. We believe in active ageing and we promote active ageing, and so this falls right in our lap,” she said.

Mrs. Hall-Taylor informed that her organization would be assisting in planning health fairs and providing the necessary links to other agencies and organizations that could best provide the services to enhance the wellbeing of senior citizens.

She also mentioned that the NCSC would be hosting a senior citizens activity centre at the facility, which would involve the transfer of skills among the seniors and to encourage their participation in social activities.

A health fair followed the launch of the centre, which saw participation from the Old Harbour Health Centre, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Clarendon Mobile Health Clinic and HerbaLife Jamaica.