HUNDREDS INCLUDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STUDENTS BENEFIT
BROWN’S TOWN, St Ann; April 10, 2025
Hundreds of students, staff, and community members from Brown’s Town in St. Ann received free health checks and screenings at a major health fair, held at the Brown’s Town High School on April 8.
The event, staged in recognition of World Health Day (April 7), was organised by the school’s Health Advisory Committee to promote healthy living practices among students, while also extending vital health services to the community.
According to JIS, the Health Advisory Committee comprises the school nurse, guidance counsellors, Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) teachers, and representatives from the sports department.
(School Nurse, Fredrica Frazer-Stewart, serving fruit salad to students of Brown’s Town High School in St. Ann, during the institution’s health fair, on Tuesday, April 8.)
Health services included blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, HIV/STI checks, dentistry and more, conducted by the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA).
The students, in particular, were given fruit salads and pineapple-infused water as part of efforts to encourage better eating habits and nutritional food options. The fair also included interactive health education sessions where students could answer health-related questions to win prizes.
“The doctors are here to assess the student population as well as the wider population as a whole,” said school nurse, Fredrica Frazer-Stewart.
She told JIS News that it was important to not only treat the students but also the parents, grandparents, and guardians, as their health directly impacts the students’ well-being.
(Medical professionals from the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA), carrying out health checks on students of Brown’s Town High School in St. Ann, during the institution’s health fair, on Tuesday, April 8).
Additionally, many community members were unable to afford private healthcare, thus making the day’s free screenings and consultations valuable, she added.
“So, if they’re here, they have the opportunity to see a doctor for screening or for them to write a prescription for them,” Mrs. Frazer-Stewart outlined. Students from the morning and afternoon shifts at the school, with an enrolment of roughly 1,600 students, were catered to at the fair.
Sharing his feedback about the initiative, grade ten student Kamado Lothian told JIS News that the health fair was “a really good idea” that allowed students to address their health needs and also engage with various organisations, such as Tax Administration Jamaica and commercial banks.
His peer, Kayciann Chatrie, pointed out the convenience of accessing multiple services in one place, like HIV testing, and even assistance with tax-related matters such as acquiring a Tax Registration Number (TRN).
For her part, Vice Principal, Sydonne Brown-King, noted that the school is committed to the holistic development of Brown’s Town, through partnerships with stakeholders.
(Students and community members being treated to a manicure at the Brown’s Town High School in St. Ann, during the institution’s health fair, on Tuesday, April 8.)
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Story and photographs by Okoye Henry, JIS
