Eighty-six-year-old Gwendolyn Jones tests a brand new walker given to her by the Optimist Club of North Portmore during the club's Health Fair at the the New Life Assembly of God, Dunbeholden, recently.

A health fair put on by the Optimist Club of North Portmore at the New Life Assembly of God, brought new life to the community of Dunbeholden recently.

The fair was well supported as both young and old came out for the services that were mainly free, with a few being sub-sidised.

The fair was the fourth in a series hosted by the club. Similar fairs have been held in Waterford, Braeton and at the Port Henderson Church of God on Port Hender-son Road.

Approximately 200 residents from the community received medical care. Dr Hortense Mitchell gave her services free of cost. Other services offered included blood sugar and blood pressure checks, eye screening, cholesterol and circulation checks, pap smear, ECG (heart test), administered by Sharlene Keens of the Diabetes Association of Jamaica (DAJ). Immunisation was done for children aged one to six years.

There were also health talks and dental care for children up to 16, provided by Kirk Distributors (formerly Colgate Palmolive Ltd). Health care providers included the DAJ, Jamaica Cancer Society, Health Corporation and St. Catherine Health Department.

walking aids for senior citezens

The Registrar General's Department was also on hand, carrying out registrations and the National Health Fund gave out information on its products. In addition to getting health care, the participants were also given packages of food stuff, over the counter drugs and other pharmaceutical items. Some senior citizens were given walking sticks and walkers, which were donated by Food for the Poor.

The club's project co-ordinator, Bobette Morgan, said the high point of the fair was to see 86-year-old Gwendolyn Jones walking home with the assistance of her walker. She was earlier picked up from her home by president Melbourne Morgan and taken to the venue.

Morgan said: "It was such a great feeling to see that old lady, realising some amount of independence by being able to move around with the help of her walker. I love doing community service, and seeing things like this, just gives me a warm feeling."

The club expressed gratitude to the sponsors and the church community and pledged to continue with similar work. The community appreciated the kind gesture. "This is a good thing, a pity we can't have it more often," Melony Lewis, a member of the community told The Portmore Star.

The Optimist Club of North Portmore meets every second and fourth Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. upstairs the McMaster Building.