Kiwanis Club of Montego Bay wants to spread its wings wider for diabetes care
Published:Monday | November 11, 2024 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Scores of children and adults were given free diabetes tests and other healthcare services by Kiwanians and friends aligned to the Kiwanis Club of Montego Bay during its annual diabetes health fair in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, recently.
“We have been doing this on the first Saturday of every November for the last 10 years,” said Hugh Miller, president of the Kiwanis Club of Montego Bay. “One of the rationales behind it is that within the parish of St James, we see that every day someone is diagnosed with diabetes, so we saw it as an initiative where we could help people in terms of getting them tested, also getting a bit of education as to how to manage diabetes, including how to prevent it in some cases.”
Miller said the event is the club’s signature project for 2024 and was held as part of the global observance of Diabetes Awareness Month (November). It was sponsored in part by the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), BeWell Consultants LLC, Refocus Vision, National Health Fund, and the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund.
According to Miller, the Kiwanians are ready to do more healthfare and educational sessions but it is not immediately able to do it alone and, as such, they are urging members of the local business community to partner with them in bringing healthcare to the people.
“We want to educate and offer much more to the community on a monthly basis. And we’d also like to grow it into not just one day, but also have different educational sessions throughout the month. So we’re asking companies within Western Jamaica to come on board with us, to give back and help our citizens,” said Miller.
Asha-Gaye Thompson, the acting regional dietitian at the WRHA, said children and other people diagnosed with diabetes should not feel worried about having to restrain themselves from the different types of food they can eat.
“We emphasise that there is no bad food. It’s the way that the food is prepared and how much they consume that really has a negative impact on them,” said Thompson.
As it relates to children, Thompson said their meal plans are recommended on an individual basis, taking into consideration their age, and usual practices and routine within their home environment.