The Issa Trust Foundation, the non-profit organisation of Couples Resorts, recently concluded its eighth medical mission in the parishes of Westmoreland and St Mary, providing a series of free medical clinics for children.

"Over the last eight years, we've developed a highly efficient process to provide paediatric medical care at no cost to as many children as possible within the two-week mission at the highest standard of care we can deliver," stated Paul Issa, chairman of the Issa Trust Foundation and deputy chairman of Couples Resorts.

Between 150 and 180 children were seen each day. Every child was met by nurses in triage to check height, weight, and blood pressure. Lab work was completed if needed and fluoride treatments given, after which they each saw a paediatric doctor.

Free meds

"Our pharmacist dispensed medications at no cost to children in need at each of the clinics," added Diane Pollard, president and CEO of the Issa Trust Foundation.

For the second year, Connexin Software Inc of Horsham, Pennsylvania, donated its services and equipment to record electroni-cally on iPads information about the patients being seen. This information will be used to get a better, quantifiable understanding of the overall health of the communities visited, including growth measurements, vital signs, lab values, prescriptions, and common diagnoses. The statistical information collected will be shared with the Ministry of Health for future planning.

This year, the mission had medical providers from many hospitals such as The University of Iowa Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa; Riley Children's Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana; Mercy Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa; Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, among others.

The team of more than 40 medical volunteers included paediatric pharmacists, intensive care physicians and haematology oncology physicians, general paediatricians, nephrologists, nurse midwives, pulmonologists, neonatologist, paediatric nurse practitioners, respiratory therapist, and paediatric nurses.

The medical clinics were held from September 18 through October 7 in the Lambs River, Williamsfield, Grange Hill and Darliston communities of Westmoreland and the Retreat, Islington and Oracabessa communities of St Mary.