Marley Foundation gives free medical help to citizens in Nine Miles
Last week hundreds of residents from the districts of Stepney, Nine Miles and surrounding areas, were given free medical attention by a team of doctors from Los Angeles, California.
The doctors were brought to the island through the efforts of Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers’ charity organisation, Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment, (URGE) and the Bob Marley Foundation.
The residents were checked for arthritis, blood pressure level, diabetes, skin disorders and other general health complaints. In addition, over the counter drugs were handed out to those in need. The team of 18 doctors, nurses, and medical students, offered their services free of charge and converted the Stepney Primary and All Age School into a health centre.
The medical team also went out into the field and made house calls on persons in the area that were too old to make their way to the Stepney School. The team paid a call on 103-year-old Eugena Brown and also paid a visit to the home of well-known Stepney citizen, “Miss Nieta”, who taught reggae king Bob, Marley when, he attended the Stepney School.
Jennifer Ranchez, a member of the medical team expressed her joy at taking part in the health fair.
“It has really been a great experience. These people really need the help and we really needed to offer some,” Ranchez remarked.
The project was organised by Lorna Wainwright of the Bob Marley Foundation and Carlene Samuels of URGE. Assistance was also provided by Lisa Wright and Georgia Samuels of the Bob Marley Foundation.
URGE is a non-profit organisation devoted to bringing relief to suffering.