The Organization for International Development Inc. (OID) hosted Health Fair 2023 at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) Gymnatorium on January 17, 2023. More than 37 international medical professionals provided free medical service to students, staff and community members from Mandeville and South Manchester.
The patrons received blood pressure tests and services including paediatric screening, adult medical screening, gynaecological screening, and testing for reading glasses. Participants were also given free medication at the pharmacy provided by the OID medical team. The main screening services were provided in the gymnatorium while the dental services of cleaning and extractions were provided at the university’s Dental Services Centre.
The health fair was well received by the public, and many patrons were impressed with the high level of professionalism, care and consultation provided by the medical team.
“It was wonderful. The doctor was very professional and helpful.” Kereen Kennedy, a resident from Pratville, South Manchester said.
NCU President, Dr. Lincoln Edwards, who was present at the event, expressed pleasure at the university’s involvement with OID. “We are very pleased that the organization has partnered with NCU to service the community, “ he said. “Together, we were able to provide a whole range of services and health care to the community.”
Dr Edwards noted that the partnership between NCU and OID will extend beyond the health fair, as future plans are underway for a mobile unit to provide cancer screening.
Denise Soares, a registered nurse and the secretary for OID, further explained that the future mobile unit will specifically facilitate breast cancer screening due to the high rates of breast cancer in black women all across the world. She pointed out that one focus of the organization is the “education of women about screening” to prevent the development of breast cancer.
Soares highlighted that the mobile unit will allow the team to provide services directly to women in different communities which will eliminate transportation expenses for these women.
Nadeen Campbell, director of corporate relations and strategic partnerships at NCU,
attributed the success of the event to the collaboration of personnel across several departments. The Nursing Department, in particular, provided great support to the OID team as several nursing and dental hygienist students assisted in providing medical and dental services.
“The turnout has been extremely good. We are very pleased,” Campbell said. She highlighted that through this event, NCU was able to carry out part of its key mission which is to serve the community.
“This is what NCU does. At its core, NCU is here to serve mankind –those who we train, and those who we serve in the communities around the university. Ultimately we are about making the conditions of our neighbours better,” sad Campbell,
The OID is an international non-profit organization consisting of professionals across the field of education and medicine whose purpose is “to provide medical, educational, health services to the underprivileged of the world”, as stated by Denise Soares, OID Secretary.
Zania McNish | CCMPR
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