Jamaica: Church partners with United Hands to provide care to over 1,500 individuals
Dr. Joyan Dean, a United Hands Inc. volunteer, extracts the tooth of Ivy Johnson, a member of the Canaan Heights community in Clarendon, Jamaica on Jun. 29, 2012. The services were part of free medical, optical and dental clinics organized by the Seventh. Image by Kemar Douglas/IAD
More than 1,500 persons benefited from free dental, optical and other medical care in three parishes in Jamaica courtesy of United Hands Inc., in collaboration with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the central and eastern regions, last week.
The team of 55 doctors and volunteers spent five days, June 25-29, 2012, serving patients at the Good Samaritan Inn in Kingston, the H. S. Walters Health and Outreach Centre in Sydenham, Spanish Town and the Canaan Heights Community Centre in Clarendon.
“We are here to promote the health message and preventive medicine, to care for the current medical conditions of individuals, and to introduce them to Christ through dental, optical and medical care,” stated Dr. Don Bovell, team leader for United Hands Inc. “We have completed over 16 mission trips around the world and we have chosen to return to Jamaica after serving here last year because of the strong support given to us by Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and because of the needs of the people in this region.”
United Hands Inc. which is based in Ocala, Florida, is comprised of volunteers made up primarily of Seventh-day Adventists. The group, over the years, has worked with various governments, non-religious agencies and various denominations. Their goal is to promote healthy lifestyle and medical care through education and preventive measures to all people at a price they can afford – free.
“Though we offer this service free to all, we believe care should never be compromised, and that is why our team consists of Board certified dentists, optometrists, physicians, internist, pediatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants,” said Dr. Ann Burnett, assistant team leader for the group.
Many of the patients who benefited from the service quickly call their family members and friends to come out as the group was not only offering free dental, optical and other medical examinations, but also health and wellness instructions, eyeglasses, dental supplies and free gifts.
“We have invested and organized this medical outreach to fulfill the mandate given to the Adventist Church, that is, to serve and uplift humanity,” said Pastor Levi Johnson, president of the church in Central Jamaica and chairman of the Board of the H. S. Walters Health and Outreach Center. “It was an excellent program. We partnered with other key players in East Jamaica Conference and the Councilor for the Canaan Heights Division to provide for the people the care that they needed.”
Long lines could be seen as people waited patiently to receive treatment, gifts and counseling.
“I feel so glad because I have this tooth that needed to come out for over two months but I didn’t have any money,” an elated Ivy Johnson who is a resident of the Canaan Heights community stated. She was thankful to the dental team for their patience in extracting a tooth. “I am just thankful because I see the dentist, the doctor and got reading glasses, none of which I could afford.”
The volunteer group consists of doctors, nurses, pharmacists along with other adults who act as assistants, councilors and guides, as well as children.
“I volunteered to be on this mission trip to Jamaica just so that I could get a chance to help persons and it has been tremendously rewarding for me and my family,” stated Janette Empage, a dental assistant from Orlando, Florida.
The H. S. Walters Health and Outreach Center is owned and operated by the church Central Jamaica and is part of an extensive Adventist Health system. It serves over 1,000 patients per year, in addition to special outreach medical projects.