Murray Mountain health fair a success
APPROXIMATELY 250 people, recently, benefited from a free health fair in Murray Mountain, St Ann, as the quiet rural town came a buzz.
Services offered included: immunisation, pap smear, HIV testing and counselling, blood pressure and sugar check, medical check-up, dental and eye check. Give-a-ways included care packages, reading glasses, school supplies and medication.
This was the 4th annual health fair to be held at the Church of God Body of Christ Seventh-day in collaboration with Food for the Poor, Sandals Foundation, St Ann Health Department, Lasco Distributors, CB Machine Service, and other individuals.
The annual health fair is the brainchild of Sarah Blake who saw the needs of the community and decided to help. Each week, on visiting her church, Blake would take her blood pressure machine to check the blood pressure of members of the congregation. But she wanted to do more and eventually started hosting mini health fairs before reaching out to companies and individuals to partner with her.
Quizzed about the recent health fair, an extremely happy Blake credited her volunteers and donors who supported the cause to make it such a big success.
Her husband …Pastor…Blake firmly supports his wife’s initiative and works closely with her to achieve the desired outcome.
“It is important for the community to understand how to take care of themselves spiritually, and physically too,” he said.
Denise Frater, a member of the church, says she is overwhelmed. “Even if I don’t get anything done today, I will still be happy for what is being done. I was here after 6:00 am and persons were here before me, some said they were up from 3:00 am. This is a growing church with lots of children,” she said, adding “Pastor Blake and his wife are very kind and helpful. I pray for them all the time, they are very good people. The school supplies are so pretty, books to read and write-in, everything is wonderful. We will save them for September. It’s a big big help”.
Eighty-eight year-old Narcun Cunningham walked more than two hours from Grants Mountain to see the doctor. “This is great, very nice. Helpful! The Lord says to help one another and that is what’s going on now. It is very appreciated”, said Cunningham.
Edwin Williams, who is blind in one eye, walked with his son from McKenzie, over an hour and a half away, using the bush road to get to the health fair.
“The Lord made a way. I had no money to see doctor, now the doctor is here to see me free. I get blanket, food stuff and my pills too,” said the 78-year-old senior citizen.
Diabetic patient Gloria McKnight, who lost a limb, was happy to get her blood pressure and sugar checked. “This helps all the communities around here. Anyone can come and get the things they have”.
Sandals Foundation representative Lyndsay Isaacs had high praise for Blake for initiating such a worthy cause.
“Primary health care is a very important factor in our community development, and with this in mind the Sandals Foundation is committed to playing its role in contributing to healthy and happy communities. Today makes a difference to all who benefited,” she said, adding “It was definitely worth the drive to come way up in the cool hills of Murray Mountain once again.”
Team Leader Michelle White, representing the health department, was happy with the amount of volunteers, donors and the great turn out of community members.
“This is a growing community with lots of children. We will do our part to ensure the community stays healthy and work together to make a happy nation. Next year it will be bigger and better.”