WESTERN BUREAU:
THE 10TH annual Montego Bay/ Atlanta Sister Cities Health Mission, which concluded in Montego Bay, St. James last week, is being hailed as a major success as some 3100 patients benefited from the free health care and medication offered over the four days.
The health mission, which was the premier event staged to mark the 23rd anniversary of Montego Bay attaining city status in 1980, was organised by the Atlanta/Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee; a special committee of the St. James Parish Council, which is co-chaired by Mrs. Metty Scarlett-Jones and Jamaica's honorary consul in Atlanta, Mr. Vin Martin.
During the four days, the 55 health professionals from the United States West Coast, who were joined here in Jamaica by a team of local professionals and support volunteers, provided health care at clinics such as the St. John's Methodist Community Action Centre and the Maroon Town, Catherine Hall, Salt Spring and the Payne Street Type 5 health centres.
Two of the doctors from Atlanta, who were integral to the team, which featured health professionals from California, Newark, New York, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Florida and Alabama, also provided blood pressure checks and counselling at a 'Health and Safety' expo staged as part of the 10th anniversary activities.
$35 MILLION IN 10 YEARS
Apart from millions of dollars in prescribed and non-prescribed medication that was issued, the health team, which has treated over 23,000 persons and donated drugs and other supplies valued at $35 million in the 10 years since the mission has been coming to Jamaica, also did dental extractions and supplied glasses to dozens of persons detected with visual impairment.
The Montego Bay Fire Department also benefited from the generosity of the mission as they received a quantity of smoke detectors.
It would appear that additional assistance could be coming their way as Mr. Martin said an attempt is being made to, "establish some sort of relationship between the St. James Fire Department and its counterpart in Atlanta."
For the future, Mr. Marin said the Atlanta/Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee plans to explore "a more tangible and consistent presence in Montego Bay." Adding that, "We will identify a permanent health project and raise funds to supply its equipment needs."
