( L - R ) Winston Barnes, Vinton King, Thomas Linton and Patrick Evelyn. Seated - Kirby Clarke, StaceyAnn Davis

The Jamaica Wellness Tour journeyed last week to the St. Clement's Mission Development Centre in Kencot, St. Andrew, where it offered residents low-cost medical tests from June 4-8.

The tour has brought medical services to thousands of Jamaicans since it was officially launched in April, 2006.

Members of the Kencot community gave a warm welcome to the clinic at St. Clement's on Monday, June 4, and praised the sponsors and organisers of the Jamaica Wellness Tour for their initiative in promoting preventative medical care. The tour is a project of the Rotary Club of Liguanea Plains in association with the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), Blue Cross of Jamaica Limited (BCJL) and the Diabetes Association of Jamaica (DAJ).

The initiative has now made eight stops, with the SAJ's mobile clinic being used to provide services at the University of the West Indies health centre, the New Providence Primary School in Liguanea, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Wolmer's Prep and High Schools and Lluidas Vale. At all of these sites, low-cost medical tests were provided to residents of surrounding communities.

Eighth leg

At the launch of the eighth leg, Winston Barnes, president of the Rotary Club of Liguanea Plains, noted that the premises used at Kencot were not large enough for the SAJ's mobile clinic, but that the SAJ continued its contribution by sponsoring the services of a doctor for two days, at of the clinic.

Mr. Barnes stated that the Jamaica Wellness Tour was keeping with its objectives of providing medical screening facilities to those persons who face the greatest challenge in accessing such services; and increasing the awareness of Jamaicans on the need to adopt healthy lifestyles and preventive approaches to personal health care.

In her address at the launch, Mabel Pink, of the St. Clement's Church Committee, thanked all partners in the tour for bringing health services to those most in need in Kencot.

BCJL, the SAJ and the DAJ are providing medical personnel, equipment and supplies for the medical tests that included heart, blood pressure, blood sugar and vision tests.

At Kencot, Vinton King, of the Rotary Club of Liguanea Plains, provided invaluable services to ensure the smooth running of the clinic. Special thanks must go to Rotarian Patrick Evelyn who initiated arrangements for the Jamaica Wellness Tour to visit that community.