RESIDENTS of Old Harbour staged a protest in front of the Old Harbour Health Centre on Friday, claiming that for close to three weeks no doctor has worked at the facility, forcing them to go without medical service.

“Is weeks now we can’t get to see doctor and is since wi start to protest wi see a doctor come to the location,” said Enid McKenzie.

She was one of several residents, including children, who took to the streets with placards.

In addition to the absence of a doctor, patients, especially women, complained about a shortage of contraceptives at the health centre.

“Is months now people going there for contraceptive and other medication and we continue to get turned away,” Shana Ricketts, a mother of two told the Jamaica Observer.

“All we can hear is that we should go to the pharmacy. This places a strain on our pockets as it is more expensive,” she complained.

Another patient, Natasha Mighton, added: “They need to improve the service that is being offered.”

On Friday, one health care worker who asked not to be named as she was not authorised to speak to the media said the protesters’ claims were untrue.

“What the residents claim is not true. Doctors do visit the location. It may be a case that the visits are not frequent and this

causes some level of inconvenience,” she said.

She explained that the doctor assigned to the clinic was on leave and that other doctors filled in on a rotational basis.

— Kimmo Matthews