Western Bureau:
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the start of the new school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scores of children in Hanover were nonetheless provided with free medical check-ups on Saturday, through an initiative by the Hanover Charities, to facilitate their return to school.
“We had five doctors volunteering, including Dr Clive McKenzie from Hopewell. Three of the volunteering doctors are former Hanover Charities Scholarship beneficiaries,” said Casserly. “We targeted the primary-school students from across the parish, even though it was open to students of all grades. It is something we really would lien in Hanover were nonetheless provided with free medical check-ups on Saturday, through an initiative by the Hanover Charities, to facilitate their return to school.
According to Katrin Casserly, chairman of the Hanover Charities, one of the nation’s leading charitable organisations, the free health clinic to do every year so that it becomes part of the schedule of the Hopewell Sports and Community Centre.
“We had about 70 children or more in attendance. All the necessary health protocols were put in place, inclusive of physical distancing, as there was sufficient space at the venue,” added Casserly.
Subsequent to the clinic, Dr McKenzie told The Gleaner that the clinic involves a complete check of the students and, where necessary, arrangements were made for further referrals.
“We found one and two cases which we referred to get follow-up attention, like children with high blood pressure, excess protein in the urine, and so forth. One of our biggest problems is the overweight/obesity (of some of the children),” said McKenzie, who is also the president of the Hanover Diabetic Association “We have also made some referrals to an ophthalmologist, and others to a dentist.”
McKenzie was full of praise for the supporting staff at the clinic, noting that apart from the five doctors, including him, there were six registered nurses, four community health aides and other community members, who all volunteered their time for the effort.
“Some of them are individuals who benefited from the Hanover Charities organisation over the years when they were students, and they are here as doctors, nurses and other professionals to give back. I really love that,” stated McKenzie.
“I hope that the Hanover Charities organisation will make the event an annual one,” noted McKenzie, who commended the Hopewell Junior Chamber International, the Hanover Diabetic Association support group, the Lennox Lewis League of Champions and the Orchard Citizens Association for their support.
The start of the new school year was slated for September 7, but was pushed back to October 5 because of the recent spike in new cases of COVID-19.