Hundreds benefit from Don Daly’s medical mission

Thursday, January 05, 2012

WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland — MORE than 600 residents from rural communities in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth recently received free medical care from the Don Daly Medical Mission, a 41 member- team of volunteer from Florida's Nova Southeastern University.

Working in collaboration with the Sandals Foundation, the team comprising optometrists, cardiologists, occupational therapists, nurses, pharmacists and medical students held 14 clinics across the two parishes last month.

During the sessions the team treated various illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, skin and fungal infections.

Additionally, more than 60 students from the Sandals Foundation-adopted Culloden Early Childhood Institution in Westmoreland, also received general check-ups and eye care during the six-day programme.

Initiated over 11 years ago by Don Daly, a Jamaican radio host in Florida and Paula Anderson-Worts, a Jamaican-born doctor and associate professor of family medicine at the university, the medical mission has also touched the lives of thousands across the parishes of St Mary, St Ann, St Catherine, Kingston and St Andrew.

Meanwhile, Daly has lauded Sandals Resorts for supporting the mission since its inception.

"Sandals Resorts International and now the Sandals Foundation have played an integral role in the implementation and tremendous success of this mission," he said.

He also thanked Dr Peter Phillips, a former minister of health, and Dr Morais Guy in St Mary, for their role in the birth and growth of the mission.