Access to Healthcare throughout many parts of the civilized world, is one of great concern. In many smaller countries like Jamaica, this is even more obvious. Healthcare in Jamaica is free to most of its citizens and legal residents at government hospitals and clinics. One of the drawbacks of free healthcare are long lines because appointments are not accepted by physicians. Reportedly, on several occasions, individuals have gone to hospitals early in the mornings, only to leave late in the evenings without ever being seen by a physician/s. Prescribed medicine is also free to the groups designated above, however; securing medicine is also a big problem. There are reports of patients gathering at hospitals/ and or pharmacies, hours prior to them opening and are later turned away due to the lack of available medication.
Click on images to enlarge
Private doctors are available, but patients must pay for their medical needs, or provide proof of insurance to cover the cost. Statistics show that, about 80-85% of patients have been treated in public hospitals or clinics. Approximately 65% of medical expenses were also incurred in hospital and clinics.
Beecher Town Give Back Association, provides free healthcare to residents in Beecher Town and surrounding communities. Our first approach to health and wellness, is our emphasis on prevention. Our team of Volunteers, in partnership with medical professionals from the United States, Canada and Jamaica, conducts health fairs in Jamaica every other year. These are typically two - day events which focuses on a number of areas, including but, not limited to: nutrition, dental hygiene, exercise, to more severe illness such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. In addition to medical examinations, certain members of the medical teams conduct educational seminars on a variety of topics, including proper diet, hygiene, and other related subjects.
During the years in which we are unable to visit and work in Jamaica, and whenever it is possible, and our partners from other organizations in the United States or Canada visits Jamaica, we coordinate with them in order to have them perform health services on our behalf. We believe that maintaining good health is essential and in one way or another, involves us all. During an address to the World Health Assembly in 2001, then UN Secretary Kofi Annan said “The biggest enemy of health in the developing world is poverty”.
Studies show that, there is a direct correlation between poor health and poverty, which has consequently fostered our mission to assist in improving both conditions, in effort to counteract this societal epidemic.