NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2023 16 WORLD FAMILY DOCTOR D Y 2023 THE WORLD Family Doctor Day Committee (WFDD) is a group composed of Caribbean College of Family Physicians, Association of General Practitioners of Jamaica, and thePostgraduateStudents of theFamily Medicine Programme, University of the West Indies.Thecommittee is celebrating the World Family Doctor Day (WFDD) 2023 on Friday, May 19, with its annual WFDDSupplement andonSundayMay 21, 2023, with a CME event. In addition, everyyear, thecommitteeselectsaneedy entity or entities as part of its outreach project(s). In this calendar year 2023, the committee has chosen the Beatitude Home as its outreach project. WFDD PROJECT The Beatitudes home, operated by Missionaries of the Poor and located at Iron River, Golden Spring, opened its doors to thementallyandphysicallydisabled inJuly2008. It originally startedwith 25 wards (people identified as in need), but that figure has increased over time. At the time of our visit, the home had 31 wards and 11-12 dedicated staff. A small contingent from the WFDD committee, Dr Seni Ononuju and Dr Dane Levy, paid a complimentary visit to the home to assess their needs. This visit came after Dr Donald Gordon (committee member) had brought their plight to the attention of the committee. The team was humbled by what it saw. Many of the wards have varying degrees of disabilities - some unable to walk, speak, or assist themselves in a meaningful way. Many have yet to attain age-appropriate mental and physical milestones. THE ENVIRONMENT On arrival at the site, there was little sign of activity. Prominent was luscious vegetation along the narrow stretch leading to the home and around the home itself. On the left was a building that resembled a church and in front were several other buildings, which were later discovered to house the wards who reside at the home. The area was well utilised and well organised, and there were different rooms allocated to teaching, storage of medications, a dining area and two rooms for recreational activities, and a main office (administrative). The staff complement is about 11 or 12 and includes teaching, catering, personal care, ancillary, gardening, administrative. On site, animal husbandry (pigs) was practised as a means by which the institution partially assists inmeeting its own food -consumption requirements. In addition, there was a large plantation of banana and plantain trees, also to help tomeet the food-consumption requirements of the wards. Despite the commendable well-kept surroundings and amenities, their plight is real. The fact that they are physically and mentally challenged does not exclude them as a significant part of the broader society. With these considerations in mind, the WFFD committee has embarked on this project to attempt to improve, in some small way, the quality of life for the wards of the home. It is hoped that through these interventions and others like these we can transform the lives of persons who, on their own, lack the ability or resources to do so. Contribution: Dr Seni Ononuju Inspiring hope through community outreach Dr Levy and Dr Ononuju with Brother Tobias. Services include: • Colonoscopy • Upper GI endoscopy • Sigmoidoscopy • Colorectal cancer screening • Polypectomy and more Signs that you may need to see a gastroenterologist: • Heartburn • Abdominal Pain • Diarrhea • Constipation • Blood in the stool • Belching, bloating, flatulence (excess gas) • Jaundice • Difficulty swallowing Location: Shop 70 – 71 Portmore Pines Plaza, St Catherine Call us today to schedule your appointment! We at FOSA want to highlight the important role of our family physicians and are always pleased to work alongside them for the best management of our patients. It is your astute management that allows patients to realise that rectal bleeding doesn’t mean they have hemorrhoids. We thank you for advising them of the need for urgent colonoscopy in order to rule out more serious conditions like Colorectal cancer. Keep up the great work.
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