Tivoli welcomes health fair
Published:Sunday | June 20, 2010 | 12:00 AM
SCORES OF persons, including the very young and old, gathered at the Tivoli Gardens Community Centre to access long-needed health care at a health fair yesterday.
While several persons flocked the various booths, which offered services ranging from medical to counselling, there were social workers on the ground engaging the children in rap sessions.
The children, who were recently greeted with the good news of their Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) placements, after the days of traumatic experience in the community, used the opportunity to show off their talents in a celebratory mood.
Social worker Jacqueline Lewis, who is a senior teacher at Rennock Lodge All-Age School in Rockfort, said the group's aim is to change the mindset of young individuals.
"We are trying to let them know what they need to do at their schools so that they can be successful, and also help them to know that they should not get involved in gangs," she said.
The pain was obvious on some faces as residents waited to be attended to.
"I am happy for these people because is long time mi a suffer with me ears and couldn't go doctor because me nuh have no money," said Claudette.
Happy for help
Lorna, who said she visited the health fair to get a dental check-up, echoed similar sentiments.
"Mi happy for it. Wi did need di help, and here it is," she said.
"Wi have to get things like these in the community to help us. We are suffering," she said.
Donnette lauded the group, saying she was happy her three young children, who had been ill since the recent violent clashes in the community, could now get medical help.
"Mi house burn down and dem no comfortable so dem get sick," she explained.
Eighty-six-year-old 'Tiny' did not let the opportunity miss her, as she has been long ailing, experiencing pain in her feet.
Members of the Professional Support Coalition Group, which included doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and police personnel from the Community Safety and Security Division, had their hands full offering their support to the battered community.
Dr Lloyd Brooks, a team member, said he was happy to lend support.
"These people need support and we think professionals are the people who are going to treat these people," he disclosed.
The team members said their presence in the community would be ongoing as, while they were at present engaged in doing curative work, they would have to extend it to prevention.