Annual medical initiative staged in St Mary
The Issa Trust Foundation, the non-profit organization created by Couples Resorts in 2005, conducted their annual Medical Initiative on the grounds of the New Testament Church of God in Oracabessa, St Mary on Friday, September 26.
The Foundation also staged medical clinics in Retreat and Islington, St Mary plus a kids’ day at the weekend. The events were scheduled to end on Tuesday, September 30.
Medical Director of the Issa Trust Foundation, Dr Pat Brophy, gave an overview of the activities being carried out.
The Issa Trust Foundation has been in existence for 10 years and the Initiative has been staged annually, mainly in the parish of St Mary in towns such as Oracabessa, Retreat and other nearby communities. Dr Brophy said that the Foundation has been working to integrate itself with and support Jamaica’s health care system.
The clinics have seen over 55,000 patients since 2010.
On Friday, the clinic in the church was set up with different areas where children could have checks for blood pressure, weight, height, heart rate and also have examination of their eyes and teeth.
Children who needed glasses were supplied with same free of cost.
The glasses were donated by the Michigan Lions Club and approximately 100 glasses were being given away.
“The flow to keep records of all these nearly 100 children today will not be a challenge because we are able to use our (computer) tablets to make notes on these kids to make our jobs easier and to store all the data,” said Dr Brophy.
The Foundation works closely with the Ministry of Health, sharing all data collected on the community, according to Dr. Brophy. The group also had their own pharmaceutical station through which, based on registration records of those turning out for care, they could provide data to the pharmacist for anyone needing medication.
Pharmacists present were Allie Marr and Michael Finkler. Dr Brophy stated that the medications being given out to the children were available locally in Jamaica.
Dr Susan Kressly, was one of the doctor that was particularly helpful in the check-up process, as she seemed to bond with the little ones and made them feel comfortable.
When The Times spoke to Jeniffer Gordon, a grandparent she said “ It’s a great gesture, I’ve been coming here for the past three years with my grandchildren and it has been awesome. This morning I have been talking to the pharmacist and I let them know that we appreciate it and it’s a good gesture to the community, because some of us don’t have the money to send the children to doctors. It is very good when the Foundation covers all medical aspects for these children. “
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