SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine, Jamaica – The Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, in association with the Help Jamaica Medical Mission, will stage its 10th grand health fair on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at the Portmore Depot in St. Catherine. More than 20 medical professionals, a majority of them who live overseas, are already in the island.
Communications Manager at the JUTC, Cecil Thoms, says everything is copacetic. “We have been collaborating with the Help Jamaica Medical Mission for several years now in staging this annual treat. Initially, the health fair was conceived to provide support and assistance to our staff, many of whom lead sedentary lifestyles and are predisposed to a wide range of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and so on. It was felt that because the society at large suffers from a wide range of non-communicable diseases that we should extend the initiative as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility to our commuters. Last year the fair attracted more than 400 people, our largest ever, and we are hoping more people will come and benefit from free medication, eye-wear and general medical advice this year,” Thoms said.
Local Organiser Norma Russell says the JUTC has been an exceptionally excellent partner and we hope to continue this partnership for many years to come. “Outside of the JUTC, the medical team will be offering free medical support and assistance to people in Kingston (at the Evangelistic Centre on September 5 and Boulevard Baptist Church on September 6), St. Catherine (at the GC Foster College on September 7), in St. St. Thomas (Harvil Holding on September 10) and on September 11 and 12 at Smithville Circuit of Baptist Churches in Clarendon and RSVP Caribbean Volunteers in Manchester respectively. We are appealing to the public to come out and make use of the opportunity” Ms. Russell said.
During the health fair this year the public will be treated to free meals. They will also be able to purchase items at discounted prices from our partners National Bakery (Yummy brand), Catherine’s Peak, Tastee and Caribbean Broilers.
The Help Jamaica Medical Mission is a team of Medical professionals from New Jersey in the United States. Last year, 28 doctors, nurses, ophthalmologists and pharmacists participated in the fair. Three non-Jamaicans, an American and two Ghanaians were also a part of the set up who volunteered their services.