Montego Bay, July 3, 2019 – Jamaica – Scores of St. James residents converged at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre to take advantage of the services that were provided by the Feed the Fight Breast Cancer Charity’s International Cancer and Medical Mission Health Fair.
The event,
which was held on June 28, enabled persons to access several key services. These included paediatric care, eye care,
blood pressure checks, pap smears, mammograms, prostate screenings, and
physical checks for the elderly.
The
organisation’s founder, Yvonne Dunkley, who is a Jamaican based in the United
States (US) city of Atlanta, says the mission resulted from a need identified to
administer mammograms and other medical services to persons who were unable to
afford them.
Ms.
Dunkley, a breast cancer survivor, says consequent on her experience with the
illness, she wanted to give back to the people of her home country. She notes that during her illness, she
reflected on her fellow Jamaicans having a similar experience, and wondered how
they were coping. This, she adds, paved the way for the organisation’s genesis.
“I wanted to help others, especially in my country. So I came home in 2013 and started to sensitize persons [about breast cancer] in the rural areas, because I noticed that they were the persons who did not have as much information as they should; and so I started a charity here,” Ms. Dunkley tells JIS News.
She informs
that the organisation comprises volunteers from Jamaica, the US and United
Kingdom (UK), adding that the group includes her four daughters. She further says that the charity initiates
medical missions in other Caribbean countries as well the UK.
Ms.
Dunkley notes that several women attending the fair, who sought to access
mammogram services, did so with referrals from their doctors. This, she adds, was mainly due to their
inability to afford the ultrasound, pointing out that these persons were sent
directly to the surgeon for the requisite procedures, where necessary.
Mammograms
were conducted for a small fee, which goes towards raising funds for future
missions and purchasing medical supplies. All other services were delivered
free of cost.
General
Surgeon, Dr. Karlene Sinclair, who was tasked with conducting onsite biopsies,
tells JIS News that volunteering
with the mission was her way of giving back to her country.
“I am a Jamaican
by birth; I lived here until I went off to college [overseas]. My aim is to do
what I can… for my fellow countrymen and -women,” she says.
Meanwhile,
patrons of the health fair have lauded the organisers of the initiative, citing
it as a necessity.
Repeat
patron, Rosalee Barrett, who has had hypertension-related health issues, says through
the initiative, “I was able to get my mammogram and other [tests] done and I am
thankful”.
“I have
known Ms. Dunkley for many years and the work that she is doing is wonderful [as
it] helps people like me and many others,” she tells JIS News.
Another
patron, Laurell Scott, says the fair is providing a “good service in Montego
Bay”, as many persons unable to afford the offerings are able to access them.
Icilda
Anson, another beneficiary, describes the fair as “a good thing” that was
staged in a good location.
A
similar health fair was held in Brown’s Town, St. Ann, from June 30 to July 1. The medical mission, which is the third such
to the island, catered to some 500 persons.
It is financed through fundraisers held in the US and UK, as well as the
support of several sponsors.
By: Serena Grant
Release: JIS
Photo Captions:
Patrons
of the Feed the Fight Breast Cancer Charity’s International Cancer and Medical
Mission Health Fair wait to take advantage of several medical services offered.
The fair was held at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre on June 28 .
Pic. 4845
Feed the Fight Breast Cancer Charity
volunteer, Rosene Hamilton (right), does a blood pressure check on patron
Amelda Irving, during the entity’s health fair at the Montego Bay Culture
Centre, St. James, on Friday June 28.
Pic. 4856
Scores of St. James residents being
registered by Feed the Fight Breast Cancer Charity volunteers during the
entity’s health fair, which was held at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre in St.
James on June 28.
Serena Grant Photos