Back to School Hand Over & Health Fair

September is the month where Rotarians focus on literacy and basic education. As the Director of Service Projects, a holistic approach to education was thought to be more beneficial to the needs of the students of the Chetolah Mel Nathan Educational Centre, based on its low socio-economic conditions. We embarked on a two-part project handing over back to school supplies and computers on September 3 and conducting a health fair on September 8, providing medical, optical and dental screening to the students.

 

On September 1, 2018, the Mel Nathan Preparatory School (1994) and Chetolah Park Primary School (1908) merged under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. Both schools are located in Hannah Town, West Kingston in an area plagued by violence and water shortages. Mel Nathan Preparatory was established through the charitable trust of Mr. Reynold Scott of the Scott Foundation, a human development agency of the United Church in Jamaica and Grand Cayman while Chetolah Park Primary was a school operated by the Ministry of Education.

In our Family of Rotary segment at weekly Monday meetings, 6:30 p.m. at the Altamont Court Hotel, Past President Joscelyn Jolly, a board member of Mel Nathan, communicated the decision by the Ministry to merge the schools in order to maintain viability. At school fees of $8,000 per year, these remained in arrears threatening payment of staff and the quality of education as resources were limited. I knew instantly that this would be our first service project for the Rotary year commencing in July.

The new school is housed on the existing Chetolah property which has a capacity in excess of one thousand students, while remaining sparsely populated to date with less than two hundred students. The Principal of the prior Mel Nathan Preparatory indicated that a final number is unknown as students continue to arrive. The ages range from three months to twelve years having completed the GSAT and now PEP for the 2018/2019 school year.

 

Our Rotarians sought sponsorship to obtain basic supplies like notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, geometry sets, colouring books, rulers and other critical needs. We obtained sponsorship and supplies from Sangsters Book Store, Mail Pac Services Limited, the Ministry of Education and Central Trading Limited. Computers were provided by Rotarian Carlton Cowell of One Stop Computers Limited and printing paper also supplied by Sangsters Book Store. Parents and teachers gathered in the school cafeteria after morning devotions to witness the handover, and declared how grateful they were to the Club for looking out for their children.

Chairman of the new school Mr. David Allen, while expressing gratitude for the school supplies, noted that acquiring computers was on the agenda for the new school year, as the internet remains a useful source of information for teaching and lesson planning. As a part of a global environment, I reminded the parents and teachers that we must use these supplies and computers to educate our children as part of of our contribution to education and teach them how to respond without the use of violence.

 

The gates opened at 9:00 a.m. and closed at 2:00 p.m. admitting one hundred and twenty-five parents and guardians with their respective students. A sequential numbering system was assigned at the gate and registration would proceed in that order. At registration, Rotaractors and teachers assessed immunization records and commenced the completion of the Ministry’s Health Form. Each child was also assigned a ticket for a hot dog and optical assessment.

 

The Rotary Club of St. Andrew North and the UWI Rotaract Club recognized September 8 as the day to improve the literacy of our children by donating books to the new school and reading to the students while they waited to be ushered to the medical teams.

 

We commend the hard work of our UWI and New Kingston Rotaractors who along with Rotarians, assisted in the free flow of activities throughout the day, manning all areas of registration and medical control. The UWI Rotoractors were Kevaughn Prout, Gabrielle Stewart, Savannah Chung, Tajera Harrison, John Hamilton and Kori Richards while New Kingston Rotaractors were Tashoy Boland, Captain Nick Morris, Antionette Mc Donald and Chevanese Peters.

 

With the assistance of our five volunteer medical doctors, Dr O’ Danielle O’ Sullivan, Dr. Christopher Wilks, Rotaractor Dr. Trudy-Ann Johnson, Dr. Renee Badroe and Dr. Lorrise Williamson and four medical students, Kelsey Williams (daughter of our Past President Glenroy Williams), Racine Ramnatha, Denzel Moore and Obasi Etienne, all one hundred and twenty-five patients received medical screening.

Medical students first assessed weight, height, medical and mental health history prior to the doctor’s examination and all students completed their optical assessment. Any diagnoses that warranted further medical investigation, the parent would be advised to seek assistance at the neighbouring area clinics.

We were loaned two beds for medical screening by Totally Male Club Spa and Salon, whose proprietor is Past President Sandra Samuels.

 

All one hundred and twenty-five patients received optical assessment from Insight Optical Jamaica who prides the company as the “Optical Innovators”. They provided onsite Auto Refractor technology to assess conditions such as blurry vision (astigmatism), near sightedness (myopia) and far sightedness (hyperopia) as well as aging which may cause trouble focusing (presbyopia).

 

Kirk Distributors, established in 2004 by Mr. Glenford Christian, Founder and Chairman of Cari- Med Group Limited, partners with Colegate- Palmolive to promote children and adult health education and treatment across the island at health fairs as part of corporate social responsibility. The company provided a mobile unit onsite, equipped to complete thirty- two students’ cleaning and examination. Children’s teeth were polished and checked for debridement or accumulation of tartar, after which they were presented with gift packages to include tooth brushes and toothpaste.

 

A dream was made a reality with the help of our sponsors to which we are grateful. These include Sangsters Book Store, Mailpac Express, One Stop Computers Limited, The Ministry of Education Youth and Information, Kirk Distributors Limited, Insight Optical, Central Trading Limited, Totally Male Club Spa and Salon, Barco Caribbean, Jamaica Broilers Group Limited and Inter Commercial Distributors Limited.

Special thanks to the support of all Rotarians and their guests who attended to create a spectacular and rewarding project to make a difference in the lives of children. The Club is looking at other detailed optical assessments and prescription eye glasses as a continuation of this project and will be looking at the continued needs of the school.