BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HUNDREDS from across the island – and even persons who visited via cruise vessels – were the recipients of free medical examination offered by volunteers of Windsor Medical School’s Students for Health (SFH) Organisation on Saturday (Mar. 23).
The student volunteers – who were about 60 in number – erected tents at Port Zante just aback the Old Treasury Building, under which they had the requisite equipment, in anticipation of the influx of patients.
And promptly at 9:00 a.m. the Health Rally began with the students offering four main services to the patients: blood glucose checks, blood pressure checks, eye checks and health counselling; all of which were offered free of cost.
In an interview with SKNVibes, President of SFH Rolland Nkemazeh explained that the venture is the result of a partnership between SFH, the Ministry of Health and Director of Community Services, Dr. Hazel, and is part of the organisation’s thrust to promote good health within the Federation.
Nkemazeh said the public’s response to the event was “impressive”, adding that the volunteers were almost always engaged in dealing with patients.
Though of considerable benefit to the participants, Nkemazeh said events such as that are also of great benefit to the volunteers.
“The benefit to the students is that they have an early exposure to doctor-patient relationship as they pursue their medical career here at Windsor University. Windsor University is the only school in St. Kitts and Nevis that offers such early exposure to doctor-patient relationship to the students.
“By the time the students get into clinical rotations or complete their medical sciences here at Windsor University, they would have already been very comfortable with doctor-patient interaction.”
