Community member Lorna Keane (left) gets her blood sugar tested at the Royale Pharmacy booth being manned by senior pharmacist Carol Muschette. Occasion was the Sandals Foundation sponsored community health fair at the Llandilo School of Special Education.

Jason Campbell, lab technician and phlebotomist at the Cornwall Regional Blood Bank is pictured preparing blood donor Roshane Woolcock at the recently held health fair at the Llandilo School of Special Education.

Negril, Westmoreland (June 27, 2017): The Llandilo School of Special Education was a bustling scene on Wednesday as scores of residents in and around Westmoreland’s capital turned up to access a host of services and products being offered at a health fair held on the school grounds.The Fair, which was a partnership between the special education school, the Sandals Foundation, Sandals, Beaches and Grand Pineapple Negril along with other corporate entities and individual donors, benefited over 650 persons.

Residents from all age groups had access to blood pressure and blood sugar testing, temperature and respiratory testing, eye screening and donations of reading glasses and free medical examinations. Additional benefits included dermatology services, free vital signs checkup, epilepsy consultations, discounted electrocardiogram testing (ECG), full pharmacy services, HIV, Syphilis testing and counseling, immunization, dentistry, life skills seminar, nutrition talks and giveaways. The Sandals Foundation who sponsored the tents and chairs as well as assistance with lunch preparation also donated school and sports supplies for children.

The Cornwall Regional Blood Bank was also present, encouraging residents to donate blood. Thirty-eight persons indicated interest and 21 were given the nod to donate. Blood donors were entered into a raffle and had the opportunity to win a host of exciting prizes.

Michelle Garwood, head nurse at the Llandilo School of Special Education and one of the main organizers for the event shared her gratitude to all the sponsors for their support. “The event could not have been possible without our partners. We want to thank every one of them for coming on board willingly and contributing in all the ways they did.”

Garwood also shared that their main reason for staging such an event was in response to the desire to give back, expressed by students at the school and the evident health issues experienced by persons who cannot afford to be properly examined and treated. “The plan to have another community health fair came about as students from time to time would express their need to help others and give back to their community. These sessions we would have when they are in the sick bay and whilst I am monitoring them, they would share that giving back to someone makes them feel complete. Staff members including our principal Mr. Roy Reid in their interactions with community members knew of the wellness challenges being faced daily and so our school along with the Lucea and Montego Bay Learning Centres formed a planning committee to stage the fair. The committee and our sponsors all agree that the day was a major success.”

Patricia Hill one of the beneficiaries at the fair who also donated blood voiced how much she appreciated everything “I came here and got to check everything I wanted to, saw the doctor, got my teeth cleaned and I witnessed so many elderly persons and young babies getting proper medical attention. After all I got for free here today, donating blood to help those in need was just my way of giving back to the cause.”

Lorna Keane was thankful to receive all her medication, and have all her checks done. She said, ‘If I were to pay for everything I got today I would be in debt for a long time. I am just happy to the school and to all the great business places that helped with everything”

Sandals Foundation representative, Jervene Simpson shared that the charitable organization was happy to come on board and give back to those in need in the parish, “we know the needs for proper health care are great in our communities. For every free health fair staged, a notable percentage of our population is impacted positively. That is always what we want to do at the Foundation; to impact our nation and inspire hope in the hearts and lives of our people.” -END- About The Sandals Foundation The Sandals Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), the Caribbean’s leading family-owned resort company. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization was created to continue and expand upon the charitable work that Sandals Resorts International has undertaken since its founding in 1981 to play a meaningful role in the lives of the communities where SRI operates throughout the Caribbean. The Sandals Foundation funds projects in three core areas: education, community and the environment. One hundred percent of the monies contributed by the general public to the Sandals Foundation go directly to programs benefiting the Caribbean community