Beyond the Check-Up: Free Back-to-School Health Fair Connects Families with Care, Counsel and Prayer
As families prepare for a new school year, the cost and availability of medical care can sometimes be a challenging task. For families who had not yet completed their back-to-school medical examinations, a Free Back To School Medical Fair hosted through the North East Jamaica Conference (NEJC) held at Ashwin Multi Specialty and Diagnostic Center Limited in Annotto Bay, St. Mary offered more than an opportunity to complete a medical check-up, but also became a space where health care, counselling, compassion and faith intersected.
The initiative brought together the North East Jamaica Conference, Ashish Health Care (Ashwin Multi-Specialty and Diagnostic Center Ltd.) and the High Commission of India in Kingston, Jamaica, in a collaborative effort to provide families with access to essential medical services at no cost.
For Lilieth Bailey, St. Mary, Parish Nutritionist and a constituent of the North East Jamaica Conference, the Medical Fair reinforced an important principle of the health ministry, caring for people means addressing more than their physical needs.
She recalls an encounter at the Medical Health Fair that hasn't left her.
During a counselling session, Bailey recalls a patient becoming overwhelmed and breaking down in tears. After listening and offering counsel rooted in Christian principles, Bailey prayed with the patient, joined by other church members, creating a moment that went beyond medical care.
For Bailey, the encounter highlighted the importance of approaching health with that of a holistic perspective.
“Health Ministry is holistic, it also takes in our spiritual well-being and therefore provides an opportunity to witness through prayer with individuals”, she said.
The moment brought light to an often overlooked aspect of healthcare, as there are many individuals living with emotional and mental burdens while grappling with health challenges.
Through conversations with patients during the fair, she observed that many people could benefit from additional counselling, particularly those living with chronic conditions. Some of whom, she explained, are still struggling to accept their diagnoses and may be carrying emotional burdens that ultimately affect their physical well-being. Her experience has strengthened her conviction that health initiatives should create more opportunities for counselling while incorporating the spiritual dimension of care.
A Timely Need
For many families, the medical fair also addressed a very practical need.
Some parents had not yet completed the medical examinations required for their children ahead of the upcoming school term. The free services provided an opportunity to complete those examinations while also accessing additional health support.Bailey said many of the families expressed appreciation for the opportunity.
The initiative also demonstrated the reach of community-based communication. Families encountered information about the fair through flyers circulated in community WhatsApp groups and other networks, allowing the invitation to travel well beyond the immediate church community. A total of 421 persons benefited from the various services offered during the medical fair. demonstrating the tangible impact of the collaboration. For families who may otherwise have struggled to access these services in time for the new school term, the event provided timely assistance and a reminder that community partnerships can make healthcare more accessible.
The Medical Fair served as a reminder that the health ministry is more than just tests and medical examinations, at the heart of it is meeting the needs of people, lending a listening ear to their concerns, and meeting them where they are with love and compassion. Demonstrating the love of Christ.
As families begin a new school year, the initiative leaves them with a message that extends beyond the walls of medical facilities, caring for our health is part of caring for the life God has entrusted to us. And when the church joins hands with healthcare professionals and community partners, health ministry can become a powerful tool for both healing and witnessing.
The initiative also demonstrated the reach of community-based communication. Families encountered information about the fair through flyers circulated in community WhatsApp groups and other networks, allowing the invitation to travel well beyond the immediate church community.
A total of 421 persons benefited from the various services offered, including 130 school medical examinations, 110 dental consultations and fluoride treatments, 60 general patient consultations, 48 HIV, VDRL and cholesterol tests, 43 vaccinations and 30 neuropathy tests. Free eyeglasses were also provided to many individuals.
For Bailey, the response demonstrated the value of collaboration in making healthcare more accessible while creating opportunities to minister to the whole person.
The fair served as a reminder that health ministry extends beyond medical examinations, it is about listening, meeting needs with compassion and demonstrating the love of Christ. When the church partners with healthcare professionals and community organizations, it can create meaningful opportunities for healing, service and witnessing.