Contributed - a patron gets a health test done during the Independence City Pharmacy's customer appreciation day.

'Living happy and healthy', was the theme for this year's Independence City Pharmacy customer appreciation day, as the event merged health promotion with a belly full of good clean fun.

With free medication and medical checks, first class entertainment such as dancehall duo, Twin of Twins, and even the 'Independence City Santa' issuing gifts, the event was memorable for all.

Held last Saturday in the parking lot of Independence City Pharmacy, the festivities began about 3:00 p.m. with a bountiful mini-health fair, which included over-the-counter medication give-aways, free consultations from Dr. Edmond Reid of City Medical Centre, and Dr. Fitzroy Mallett, as well as free blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol checks. The National Health Fund was also on hand, informing the elderly on their creative JADEP and NHF programmes.

Musical maestro's Bass Odyssey: Next Generations, wooed the mostly adult gathering with oldies hits, as mannish water readied the bellies for food to come. As dusk turned to night, pharmacy staff began serving over 700 curry goat and rice meals, as deejay Ali patch defied the cooling night by heating up the venue with more current dancehall hits such as To the World by Elephant Man and My Scheme.

Performances began about 7:30 p.m., with new upcoming artiste, Renegade, as he injected a flurry of excitement into the young crowd, with his hit single, Nuh Weh Safe Fi Walk. Fellow Portmore artiste, Bushwhack blazed a fire with his single Crisis.

Near deafening screams from nearby young female patrons signalled the entrance of the popular dancehall siblings, Twin of Twins. Immediately captivating the audience with their inventive humour and controversial commentary, they skilfully addressed many issues while interjecting their hit singles, including Who Ketch Heart Attack.

Avoiding their usual 'Beenie-Man' controversy, they opted instead to address the issue of their surname (Gaynor) being 'dissed' on the comedy bus. They then had the crowd cheering to their new hit single, Rising Star, where they addressed the issue of the controversial shower tape.

With the kids whipped into a frenzy, the dancing competition was underway, with multiple dance-offs with boys, girls, adults, and even the elderly. In the true spirit of Christmas, all contestants were awarded prizes whether they won or not.

"It's not about winning or losing, it's about everyone having fun, all our customers are winners," said pharmacy proprietor, Aubrey Chang.

Pharmacist and co-proprietor of Independence City Pharmacy, Juliet Kossally-Chang, said they have been staging the event annually; since the business opened, as a way of giving back to their community, and expressing their motto 'customers: our number1 concern.'

"Special thanks to NHF, nurses, doctors, Lasco Pharmaceuticals, Facey Commodity, Carimed, H.D. Hopwood, and many other distributors that supported the event, but most of all, I would like to say a big thank you to my wonderful and dedicated staff," said Mrs. Chang.