Charity organisation brings smiles to students

Shenicka Wright was a worried mom as her older son often found it difficult to sleep because of the pain caused by three troublesome teeth, but now the mother of two is relieved to see him smile again after they were removed.

On Tuesday, she watched carefully as Dr Caroline Shepherd and dental assistant Tamika Freeman performed oral surgery on her firstborn at a health fair organised by the JAH JAH (Jamaicans Abroad Helping Jamaicans at Home) Foundation on Tuesday at the Iris Gelly Primary School in St Andrew

"I am very grateful for this gesture because it was bothering him for a while. I was planning on taking him to the health centre but the timing has always been a problem for me because I have his one-year-old brother to attend to," Wright said. She said that her son, who is in grade three, was excited when he learnt about the pending health fair.

"Him get up dis mawnin (Tuesday) well wah go school so him can get fi tek dem out. I am really happy and grateful for this to tell you the truth," the caring mother said.

The team of more than 45 volunteers consisting of nurses, medical doctors and dentists from the USA, all chipped in on Tuesday working tirelessly to make a smooth flow of operations. Their gesture was applauded by Claud Rowe, who is the school's principal.

"It was superb, it was more than what I had expected. I am so grateful to the organisation. By my rough estimation, over 200 students would have got some help of the sorts. I spoke to my chairman and we are just overjoyed with pride that we were selected," he said.

According to Delta Wright, the sponsorship coordinator for JAH JAH Foundation, the overseas-based charity organisation had met its objectives on Tuesday, one of which was to see the gratitude expressed by the children.

"They truly reciprocated the gesture with their warmth and genuine smiles. The objective was to see as many students as possible. It was a job well done and we are happy about what we have done today," she said.

Wright explained that the school was selected on the recommendation of a "local champion", which is the title given to individuals working on the ground on behalf of the charity group in various communities.

She said that the foundation has a mandate to raise awareness and improve health and education to enhance the quality of life for the undeserved in Jamaica.

The organisation has been operating since 2014. The current health drive started on January 15 and will run to the 22nd, with the next stop slated for Negril, Westmoreland, on Thursday.