Outreach group extends support to St Ann residents
Published:Friday | June 23, 2023 | 1:24 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
BLACKSTONEDGE, St Ann:
MORE THAN 250 adults and children in the St Ann South Eastern districts of Whitehall, Mosley Hall, Dillon Town, and Blackstonedge have benefited from free medical care and aid from the overseas-based Alliance of Jamaican and American Humanitarians (AOJAH).
The California-based organisation, which works collaboratively to provide quality healthcare, education programmes, and social services to the poor, underprivileged, and low- to moderate-income individuals, was on one of its usual stops in the island at the St George’s Anglican Church and Basic School on Tuesday.
The programme started more than a decade ago, and Joan Crawford, president of AOJAH, told The Gleaner about the objectives of the programme.
“This organisation has been formed since 2010, and except for the three years of the COVID pandemic, we are always here,” said Crawford.
According to her, the team has always made a habit of visiting the Blackstonedge area and is pleased with the support.
“It has been a good response from people within the various communities in the area as they cannot afford to pay for these medical benefits, and they take the opportunity to make use of this gesture, “ she told The Gleaner.
Many patients were treated for issues concerned with diabetes, arthritis, and high blood pressure. The patients were also given supplies and hygiene bags.
Crawford said her team consisted of 95 personnel from California, New York , Florida, and Atlanta and included physicians, registered nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, and support staff . She said they all paid their own expenses, including airfares and hotel accommodation to make the trip to the island.
The organisation has donated equipment supplies to St Ann’s’ Bay and Port Antonio hospitals while giving scholarships recently to two students of Titchfield High School at the cost of US$1,000 annually. Basic school students were given school supplies, and medical help has been given to the Bahía Principe Hotel staff on their regular visits to the country.