St Thomas residents get free health care

MORANT BAY, St Thomas:

Hundreds of residents of Jones Pen and surrounding communities in St Thomas benefitted from various free medical services on Tuesday from the charitable organisations Mocho Village, Inc and the US-based volunteer group called the Organization for International Development (OID).

Vivine Christine, education director and event planner at Mocho Village Inc., told Rural Xpress that the rural community was chosen based on her ties with the area.

"I am from this district, was born and raised in the surrounding communities. I even went to all the local schools. I went to Mount Vernon Primary School and also Trinityville Secondary School that's now called Robert Lightbourne (High School).

I now live in Bronx, New York but from ever since I have always wanted to give back to the community. I am a product of the community and I haven't forgotten," she said.

Christine explained that she joined the philanthropic organisation so she could fulfil her dream of contributing in whatever way she can to the remote but well populated area.

The 48-year-old humanitarian told Rural Xpress that this isn't her first good deed offered to her past hometown.

In fact, Christine was vital saving her alma mater, Mount Vernon Primary School that was to be shut down by government due to under performance.

Being a teacher in the States, Christine explained how she rallied a few of her colleagues, visited the school in 2012 and provided weeks of extra lessons to the small number of students who attended.

This she said, yielded great results.

Christine said during her work in the area, she identified a need for medical care.

According to her: "Health is extremely important so we reached out to OID to come and offer their services here. Today, we are providing paediatric, gynecologic, dental and other medical care so that the community members can benefit."

Some 20 doctors and nurses of OID made themselves available to tend to the needs of residents, who despite the ongoing rain and mud, came out in their numbers to seek medical attention.

One resident, who said she is from the Muffat community shared her gratitude towards the groups.

"It's a very wonderful thing that they are doing. I'm glad for it and I hope the people appreciate what they are doing for them. I'm here to get my eyes and blood pressure tested and anything else they can do, I appreciate all of it. We need more of this in the community and I hope they'll come again. I am so glad they came," she said.rural@gleanerjm.com