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04th
March 2010
Free Screening
for La Guerre Residents
Stan Bishop
Over
three hundred residents from the La Guerre community
and its immediate environs benefitted from free
health screening last Saturday.
The exercise was part of a medical camp hosted
by the La Guerre Health Facility in collaboration
with the American International Medical University
(AIM-U).
The screenings were conducted in the health
facility and the multipurpose centre where residents
– young and old – showed up to receive
the free tests.
Residents received tests for blood sugar, blood
pressure, body mass index, eye screening, pap
smears, and health talks.
Over twenty-eight students from AIM-U teamed
up with Dr. Josiah Rambally, and seven nurses
from the La Guerre Health Facility to complete
the five-hour exercise.
Parliamentary representative for the area, Hon.
Ezechiel Joseph, who was on hand to assist in
organizing the event, expressed his appreciation
for the initiative.
“I am indeed grateful for the collaboration
with regards to providing medical to the community
of Babonneau, especially La Guerre,” Joseph
told The VOICE. “The La Guerre Health
Facility celebrated its fifth anniversary just
one day prior to this exercise, so it was timely.
Based on discussions with Mrs. Theresa Poleon,
AIM-U’s coordinator, I was informed of
the outreach programme the medical university
had undertaken, so we just tied the two in.”
The university has conducted similar exercises
within the Babonneau community, including medical
camps at Fond Assau and Desbarras, as well as
islandwide in communities such as Soufriere,
Anse La Raye, Gros Islet, Vieux-Fort, Bexon,
to name a few.
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Joseph added
that cognizant of the high costs attached
to health care, the gesture is a welcome one
that needs to be replicated. He was also pleased
that among the predominantly foreign students
from AIM-U are locals who, he said, are demonstrating
their role in giving back to the community,
which they will later serve in a professional
capacity upon graduation.
Dr. Raj, executive dean of AIM-U, told The
VOICE that since undertaking the free screening
exercise over a year ago, his university feels
proud knowing that it can assist in addressing
some of the island’s leading ailments.
With diabetes being a leading health concern
on the island, he said the school feels pleased
that it can tackle the problem in whatever
tangible way it can.
“All the ailments being tested for are
major concerns to us,” Dr. Raj said.
“So, apart from testing the patients,
what we do is assist them in whatever way
we can in helping them pay for their medical
needs, or provide such if we can. We, therefore,
encourage people to take advantage of the
exercises whenever we host them in their communities.”
Such assistance includes sponsoring five of
the most eligible persons per camp who will
receive free treatment and/or other costs.
The VOICE also spoke to some of the patients
who had nothing but appreciation for the initiative.
Some of them indicated that due to financial
constraints, they had had to forego periodical
medical screenings.
At the end of the exercise, Hon. Ezechiel
Joseph thanked all involved in the medical
camp and presented certificates of appreciation
to participants.
The next free screening sessions will be held
this Sunday, March 7 at the Garrand Community
Centre, from 9:30 a.m. and tests will be done
for the following: blood sugar, blood pressure,
body mass index, and eye exams, and more.
Discuss
Story
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