Beaches Negril's fun pal, Kady Moseley stares into the equipment being used to examine her eyes by Dr. Allan Jones, during an eye clinic put on by specialists from the Canadian Vision Care Centre. Residents from the Negril community and its environs benefited from the clinic. - Contributed

THE COST of health care and medication are very high in Jamaica, and as a result not many people are able to access proper health care when they should. However, help has been coming from both far and near.

A team of 12 eye specialists from the Canadian Vision Care Centre is now in Jamaica helping to ease the burden of thousands of citizens by providing them with free eye care and reading glasses, where necessary.

Friday, November 12 was dedicated to the Sandals Western Alliance, (Sandals Negril, Beaches Negril and Poinciana Beach Resort) and approximately 200 students from their three charities, as well as employees and residents of the Negril community, turned out at the Bishop Swaby Centre to have their eyes tested.

"There is really a need for this kind of service in Jamaica, since health care is very expensive and many people cannot afford to pay the high costs for medication," said Dr. Erlandson.

He said nine clinics are to be held in various towns across the island. The aim is to provide eye screening and care for at least 200 children and 150 adults each day.

"We tend to focus on children because they are the future of the country. If they can't see, they won't be able to read and we will not have a bright Jamaica," Dr. Erlandson stated.

Continuing, he added: "The number of persons we have seen in two days is verwhelming. The response is just fabulous and this shows that there is the need for this kind of clinic for the needy."

Over 70 persons in Negril received glasses and eye drops and one person received contact lenses. Two persons were diagnosed with eye ailments that required surgery. This is to be done at the Savanna-la-Mar hospital later this month. Dr. Erlandson said all the medication and glasses were donated by organisations in Canada.