Rotary takes its Village Doctor programme to Canouan

ON THE EVE of the start of the new school year for a majority of students, Rotary Clubs have taken their Rotary Village Doctor programme to Canouan.

In a release, the Rotary family in St. Vincent and the Grenadines said residents on the hurricane affected island received not only medical attention; children also were provided with back to school supplies.

CASES OF WATER supplied by Massy Stores Ltd.

The Clubs said the September 1, 2024 visit to Canouan fell within its Basic Education and Literacy month and was supported by a number of corporate partners. Providing their services from the compound of the Canouan Secondary School, a team of 13 medical professionals comprising doctors and nurses of varying specialities provided services to more than 224 residents, the Rotary release states.

It said residents also were able to fill their prescriptions on site, compliments the SVG Pharmaceutical Association, and dispensed by professionals from Express Pharmacy and Q Care Pharmacy. Sono SVG, a partner in Rotary’s Breast Health Awareness project, also accompanied the team to provide ultrasound and X-ray services, and persons needing eye care benefitted from donations of 25 vouchers for free eye care and spectacles valued at EC$12,500 from Eyes R Us, a longstanding supporter of the Rotary Village Doctor programme.

Under the “Free Market” aspect of their operations, Rotary said donations of 75 backpacks with school supplies were provided to residents, compliments the St. Vincent Co-operative Bank Ltd., Digicel St. Vincent Ltd., and Jax Enterprises Ltd. The “Free Market” also featured essential personal care items, books, shoes and clothing donated by the Rotary family and the SVG Association of Ex-Coast Guard Officers in collaboration with Caring for Others Inc. Many residents are said to have openly expressed their gratitude for the support, especially as they prepared for the new school year.

The Rotary Club of St Vincent, Rotary Club South and the Rotaract Club of Kingstown,which made the journey, was joined by several corporate volunteers who took to the streets of Canouan to make their own goodwill contributions to the community. Massy Stores Ltd. supplied cases of water and food packages to the elderly, while Courts Unicomer Ltd. made donations of computer monitors to the school, pillows and mattresses for the school’s sick bay, and a microwave oven for the officers at the Canouan Police Station.