NCB, Guardian bring free health checks to Mandeville

Jodie-Ann Cassanova, a mother of three from Mandeville, Manchester, was focused on getting all the items on her children's book lists, but she also wondered about their health and if the money could stretch to cover all bases.

In the end, Cassanova was one of more than 1,000 residents in Mandeville who attended National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited's (NCB) Sum'n Nice fi Dem Future Back-to-School Fair, where the spotlight was on health and readiness for the new school year. Families across Manchester turned up at the NCB Mandeville branch for the final stop in the series.

The Guardian Medical Bus provided free screenings to over 150 residents. Parents and children benefited from blood pressure checks, glucose testing, and vision assessments, services that relieved the financial pressure of preparing for September.

"I was focused on my book list, so the health checks were a blessing I didn't expect. Knowing my children are healthy makes me feel so much better -- it's one less thing to worry about for school," said Cassanova.

"Every parent knows how expensive back-to-school can be, and health checks are sometimes the first thing to fall off the list," said Kaysia Vaughan, head - group marketing and communications unit, NCB. "That's why we felt it was important to take this service to them. We want families to focus on getting ready for school knowing their children are healthy."

For many families, back-to-school comes with tough trade-offs -- a new pair of shoes or a doctor's visit, groceries or textbooks. Dr Shamir Manya, physician with the Guardian Medical Bus, noted the importance of access.

"You'd be surprised how many families overlook health checks when school expenses pile up. Parents were relieved to have screenings right in their community, and it showed how powerful preventative care can be. Catching small issues early gave them peace of mind that their children are starting the year on a healthy path."

Alongside the free screenings, families also received practical reminders to keep health part of their back-to-school routine: make time for annual check-ups, keep vaccinations up to date, pack balanced lunches, and ensure children get proper rest so they can perform at their best in the classroom.

The atmosphere stayed lively from start to finish with Jennifer 'Jenny Jenny' Small at the mic, filling the branch with laughter as she hosted dance-offs, quizzes, and surprise giveaways that had both parents and children cheering each other on.

The Mandeville leg of NCB's fairs brought the series to a close, providing families with school supplies, fee-payment solutions, and free health checks.

"Through our partnership with our sister company Guardian, which provided free health screenings, and with local NCB Merchants, who offered free haircuts and discounts on schoolbooks and stationery, we're happy to give families help that makes a real difference," said Vaughn.