SJF/SDC Back-to-School Health and Information Fair moves to Rose Heights
THE SPANISH-JAMAICAN Foundation (SJF) in partnership with the Social Development Commission (SDC) recently staged its 6th Annual Backto-School Health and Information Fair under the theme “A Healthy Start is the Best Start” at the Rose Heights Basic School in Montego Bay.
Over 300 persons from Rose Heights and neighbouring communities benefited from the fair, sponsored by The SJF, which was founded in 2006 by Spanish investors in Jamaica. The SJF aims to promote education, cultural and environmental awareness, and contribute to community development. As in previous years, additional support came from SJF member companies RIU Hotels and Resorts, Hospiten, and Iberostar Hotels and Resorts.
A wide array of organizations again volunteered their time and shared their expertise. These included the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the National Council on Drug Abuse, the Consumer Affairs Commission, the Peace Management Initiative, the St James Public Health Services Department, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, HEART Trust/NTA, the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation, and many more.
Residents appreciated the opportunity to have school medicals completed; have HIV tests courtesy of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life; as well as have blood pressure and glucose checks done by the Hospiten staff. Dental services were also included in the line-up courtesy of a supervised team of volunteer dental students from the University of Technology’s College of Oral Health Sciences.
The children and the young at heart were engaged in animated activities, including dance competitions and face painting by Iberostar’s much-loved entertainment team. Lively music added to the fun-filled party atmosphere. Prizes and surprises were donated by TBS Novelty Products Limited, while invaluable support was provided by Food For the Poor and MAG Chemicals.
SDC St James Parish Manager Randy Hayle, who attended the fair, highlighted the fact that “the partnership between the SDC and SJF is one that has yielded tremendous benefits in St James in terms of developing awareness and providing access to GoJ-safety net programmes and other social services.” He also noted that “there has been a significant response from communities in accessing services and increasing support from partners of the St James inter-agency network”.