KINGSTON, Jamaica. February 15, 2024: More than 550 residents took advantage of the of various health tests on Thursday (February 1) as the Ministry of Health &; Wellness in conjunction with the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), the Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department and the National Health Fund hosted the fourth in a series of major health screening as part of the #KnowYourNumbers programme.
The event which was held at St William Grant Park in Downtown Kingston saw residents benefiting from core health services which included screening for body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, vision, cholesterol, HIV/syphilis, fitness assessments dental checks and denture impressions. A total of 90% of residents benefited from free blood pressure checks, 75% from blood cholesterol level while 80% got tested for blood sugar.
Additionally, members of the public participated in a workout session to promote physical activity. Dr. Sandra Chambers, Regional Technical Director, SERHA, was on location encouraging the visitors, staff and patients to #KnowYourNumbers.“The #Knowyournumbers campaign is very important as it helps us to educate Jamaicans about the importance of regular health screening. Persons at this event will be given an opportunity to know their health status and will be given information about the risk factors of Non-Communicable Diseases.” She said that the #KnowYourNumbers is an initiative under the Ministry of Health and Wellness that focuses on getting Jamaicans to screen at least once each year to know their health status and what they need to do to modify their behaviour to reduce illness and premature mortality.
This is to provide Jamaicans with the opportunity to know what they are vulnerable to and what they need to do to correct this through lifestyle changes. The St. Thomas leg of the Know Your Numbers Road Tour will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Photo showing residents waiting outside of the mobile bus to do HIV and syphilis testing during the Kingston leg of the Know Your Numbers Road Tour held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at the St William Grant Park in Downtown Kingston.
Comments