Clarendonians get on board to ‘know their numbers’
Published:Tuesday | May 21, 2024 | 12:05 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
Clarendon residents have lauded the initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which aims to bring essential health screenings and services to communities.
The ‘Know Your Numbers’ and ‘Second Chance Smiles’ campaigns encourage residents to prioritise their health by providing access to critical screening tests and examinations, including checks for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and more.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton announced that to date, more than 122,000 tests had been conducted under the initiative – a significant milestone he asserted as the initiative’s success in providing critical health screenings and also dental care to Jamaicans.
The Second Chance Smiles campaign offers dental screenings and denture replacements, providing a new lease on life for those in need.
Last Friday, several scores of residents crowded Bargain Village in parish capital May Pen to access the free healthcare services.
Residents have expressed gratitude for what they say is a proactive approach to healthcare, recognising the importance of early detection and intervention in preventing and managing lifestyle diseases.
Norma Williamson, 66, shared that the event was announced at her church, and since she had never had a full routine check-up, she decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
“I came and found out my sugar and pressure is high. This is the first time I ever get checked because I’ve never been sick before, so I’m going to the A and E (accident and emergency department at the hospital) now.”
Commending the initiative, she said: “The service is very good and I appreciate it. The doctors are very nice.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by 70-year-old Mavielyn Buchanan, who was beaming with joy as she took advantage of the free health screenings offered.
“The doctors treated me so well. The behaviour of the staff was excellent. The two doctors I went to were so courteous and loving. I wish this would happen again soon,” she said.
Buchanan praised the initiative, saying it was a welcome relief for many seniors like herself who sometimes struggle to afford healthcare costs.
“This programme is excellent because as you know, the doctors are very expensive, and we were able to see so many doctors free of cost,” said Buchanan with a smile.
“I didn’t get to do the cholesterol when I did my check-up about four months ago, and I came here and was able to do my cholesterol, plus blood sugar, blood pressure, and body mass index, which is what I really wanted to do to know if my weight matched my height,” shared Buchanan.
Can save lives
Another resident, Angelita Thomas, praised the Know Your Numbers Campaign, citing it as a good, proactive initiative that has the potential to save lives. By providing free health screenings, Thomas believes the programme is taking a vital step towards improving the health and well-being of the community, and by extension, the community.
“Some people come out here just out of curiosity, and that is when they find out that they have high blood pressure or any sickness at all, so this is a good idea,” she expounded.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton praised the programme’s impact, stating that it had not only improved access to healthcare, but also empowered individuals to take control of their health and well-being.
“People have really bought into the programme, have bought into the reason for knowing their numbers and why it’s important, but when you look at what it means for some persons, it’s literally life-saving, immediate life-saving in terms of knowing those numbers,” said Tufton.
Expounding on that point, Dr Alecia Watson, district medical officer at the Thompson Town amd Mocho health centres in the parish said: “We saw about 16 patients today, majority of which were patients with elevated blood pressures that needed treatment. One patient in particular, her blood pressure was 238 over 87. We gave her medication, but the blood pressure did not go down. With that elevated blood pressure, she could easily have a stroke, so that patient was sent to the May Pen Hospital for treatment.”
Tufton gave a charge to parents, urging them to prioritise their children’s health and well-being by promoting healthy dietary habits and regular exercise.