Each new year is an opportunity to give achieving your goals another shot. In 2023, PICJ is renewing our commitment to partnered care. We teamed up with First Global Bank to host a health fair at their New Kingston branch, and brought necessary blood pressure and glucose checks straight to the people. Time is an understandable hindrance for many of us but the clients who showed up on Wednesday were able to make headway on their health goals and financial goals!
The health fair was also our way of celebrating two special occasions; Heart Month, which is commemorated every February, and of course, the 6th anniversary of PICJ. Dr. Elliott, our medical director, gave the First Global staff a timely reminder of the symptoms of heart attack and stroke, while stressing the importance of lifestyle adjustments they can make such as adding more fresh vegetables and reducing starches at mealtime, and simple, regular exercise like brisk walks.
“If you see [stroke symptoms] don’t be like our fellow Jamaicans who say ‘boy doc I was at home watching it’ and then they come in 3 days after [the stroke],” Dr. Elliott implored. “If they present within the first 4 hours of the stroke, they can receive therapy that can change their outcome.”
Curious clients as well as the freshly informed First Global staff had their eager heart health questions answered by doctors Elliott and Kelly. Keeping track of your blood pressure and glucose levels are your first defense against heart disease which is why it was so important to provide free checks at our health fair. The event was a brilliant way to ring in our 6th year of bringing life saving therapies to the Jamaican people!
