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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesWeekend Medical Events Stress Serving the Community

Weekend Medical Events Stress Serving the Community

Student nurse Shante Polius, right, takes Mildred Nieves' blood pressure at the Lions Club Diabetes Fair.Tough times on St. Croix are bringing out the best in people. Organizations and individuals are stepping up to serve the community. Saturday the Lion’s Clubs on St. Croix hosted a Diabetes Fair while a blood drive was held at the St. Croix Sportsman Center.

Ghazi Abdulghani, director at the St. Croix Sportsman Center, provided a spot where the Juan F. Luis Hospital mobile blood unit would be visible – the parking lot at the little plaza at 4A Orange Grove.

Janine Schuster, deputy superintendent Department of Education, said she saw the mobile unit and decided to stop and donate. She said in this critical time it is important to give back any way we can.

“We can’t go in and work at the hospital, but we can give the gift of life,” Schuster said. “I feel privileged to give blood today.”

She added her actions honored her brother, who she gave a kidney to a year ago.

Abdulghani said he wanted to give back to the community by doing something for the hospital.

“I want to promote health and fitness,” Abdulghani said. “It just seemed right to do the blood drive to help the hospital in some way. I hope we all continue the trend and momentum of giving.”

Latoya Martinez, medical technician at Luis Hospital, said the blood bank always needs blood. She said blood has a shelf life of 35 days. She added people can donate every two months.

Optician Dorian Foster gives a vision screening.“It is always good to have a good supply of blood on hand in case of trauma,” she said.

If a person needs blood and it’s not available on island, she said, the blood bank has to order it from Puerto Rico where it costs $230 a pint. People can call the blood bank at 1-340-778-6659 to schedule a blood drive.

According to the American Diabetes Association, November is American Diabetes Month, a time for communities to come together to stop diabetes.

For 15 years the Lions have been reaching out providing free health screenings for the uninsured and underinsured at the Diabetes Fair.

About 100 people got blood sugar screening, blood pressure checks, vision screening and flu shots at Saturday’s event.

At the St. Croix Majorettes headquarters in Peter’s Rest, the Lions had a reception area under a huge tent, where they helped people fill out their intake forms.

Rhona Liburd said she has come for the free screenings the past three years.

“It makes sense to save money and get checked regularly to stay healthy,” Liburd said as she waited to have her vision screened. “Prevention is better than the cure.”

Student nurses from the University of the Virgin Islands performed the screenings. And Dorian Foster, optician from Vision Center, gave vision tests.

Lenroy Phillip, president of St. Croix Lions Club, said the Lion’s motto is “We serve.” He said they serve the community providing free screenings and education about vision and the connection to diabetes.

“The community looks forward to this fair every year,” Phillip said. “I hope we’re making a difference.”

More than a dozen Lions volunteered at the fair. Cecilia Simmonds, president of the U.S.V.I. Club, said they do the fair so people have every opportunity to get free screenings.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Reginald O’Donoghue, vice president and past president of the St. Croix Club said.

St. Croix Lions Club, Twin City Lions Club and U.S.V.I. Lions Club hosted the fair.

Sponsors for the health fair include, Medicine Shop, Christian Pharmacy, Diamond Pharmacy, Mt. Welcome Pharmacy and Golden Rock Pharmacy.

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