NERHA Expands Back-to-School Medical Clinics Across St. Ann

Scores of households accessed healthcare services in Moneague on July 15 during the latest stop in the North East Regional Health Authority’s summer back-to-school programme in St. Ann.

The outreach session at the Moneague Health Centre was one of several community health missions being staged across the parish. The programme is intended to help parents and guardians secure the examinations their children need before the new academic year begins.

Nadia Nunes-Hyde, Parish Manager for the St. Ann Health Department, said general medical assessments were available to parents and guardians, while dental checks were provided for children.

She told JIS News that many families look for convenient ways to complete their children’s school medical requirements. On selected days at specified health centres, the department deploys extra doctors and nurses to assist families and also offers dental screening.

The Moneague event came one week after a similar clinic in Brown’s Town. Further visits are scheduled over the coming weeks, with Ocho Rios among the planned locations.

The health department is also working with Fern Court High School on another school-readiness effort through which students will receive medical examinations, Mrs. Nunes-Hyde said.

She reported strong public response to the programme. Attendance at the Brown’s Town outreach was high enough for organisers to arrange another day, particularly because some parents arrived with as many as five children requiring examinations.

Mrs. Nunes-Hyde said the department is willing to lengthen or expand its services when required so that all families can be assisted.

Support organisations differ according to the location of each outreach session. Partners have included the National Council on Drug Abuse, the Social Development Commission and other entities.

Mrs. Nunes-Hyde also urged residents to use community health centres regularly for their healthcare needs instead of visiting only when children require school forms.

Parents who still need back-to-school medical examinations for their children should monitor NERHA’s social media accounts, where the authority publishes forthcoming clinic dates and venues. Mrs. Nunes-Hyde assured families that services would be available at the announced locations.