Members of the public are invited to come out and get free health checks at the Barbados Defence Force’s Field Medical Team (BDF FMT) camp site, located at the National Stadium, Waterford, St. Michael.
The health checks will run from Thursday, August 31, to Saturday, September 2, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., as part of a community engagement exercise being hosted by the BDF FMT.
On Thursday, August 31, and Friday, September 1, the Barbados Heart and Stroke Foundation, will conduct blood pressure and body mass index checks.
Also on Friday, September 1, persons can have their eyes and teeth assessed by an optometrist and dentist, respectively.
Then on Saturday, September 2, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) will work in collaboration with the BDF FMT to offer a range of free services to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
These services will include blood pressure checks, blood sugar testing, PSA testing and tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis B vaccines. In addition, there will be routine childhood vaccines, as well as the HPV vaccines for those 11 years and over.
The immunisation certificate that is required for entrance to secondary school will also be issued. Parents are encouraged to walk with their child’s vaccination card so it can be updated.
There will also be educational services for antenatal clients as midwives will be on-site to provide health education, counselling, and guidance on antenatal care. The main areas of focus for these will include what happens at the first visit, diet and pregnancy; what to expect during labour and delivery; and the benefits of breastfeeding.
Persons attending the health sessions during the community engagement exercise are asked to wear shoes without heels.
Those 18 years and over attending the community engagement sessions are also invited to sign up and become volunteers with the BDF FMT, regardless of their educational level. These include medical (doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics and pharmacists); logistics personnel such as artisans, engineers, those in the field of communication; and general administrative and auxiliary personnel.