Diaspora charity assists health centre

The St Jago Health Centre has received a donation of medical supplies valued at $5 million

from the Florida-based diaspora entity Living Well Community Care Centre (LWCCC).

The items, which include medications, gloves, syringes, wheelchairs and walkers, were

handed over on Monday at the health facility in St Catherine. CEO and founder of LWCCC,

Dr Joan Williamson, told JIS News that the contribution was to address areas of need.

Williamson, who migrated to the US in the 1990s, said she keeps her homeland close to her

heart, noting that giving back to Jamaica “has always been our joy”.

The charity provides health, social, and spiritual support services to underserved

communities, with specific outreach efforts and initiatives focused on Jamaica.

“This is our eighth time since [Hurricane] Melissa. We come back so often to make sure

ongoing help is being given to Jamaica, to continue the recovery and the resuscitation of the

devastation that took place,” Williamson noted.

She said that her path is directed by God. “There is nothing for us to gain financially. We do

not seek notoriety or recognition. It’s just from our heart and we want people to live well,”

she added.

The contribution of the medical supplies was facilitated by Jamaica 4-H Foundation 2016

Limited, which partnered with the charity to deliver urgent relief and long-term recovery

support to communities, following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

“We have done tremendous work in western Jamaica. We have had several clinics in those

communities since the hurricane and we have delivered over 5,000 care packages to persons

living in those communities that were affected by Hurricane Melissa,” said Managing

Director of Jamaica 4-H Foundation, Peter Thompson. Last Saturday, LWCCC members and

volunteers distributed about 1,000 care packages and medical supplies to residents of St Catherine.