The Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee plans to construct a health clinic in Montego Bay, St James, to facilitate a more organised and sustainable health-care programme between both cities.

Jamaica's Honorary Consul in Atlanta, Vin Martin, said that for the last 15 years, Atlanta had been conducting its health mission to Montego Bay and it was now time that "we have a permanent health facility in that city, where we can schedule to see our patients more frequently and conduct follow-up treatment rather than just seeing them once per year".

Fund-raising brunch

Martin, who is also chairman of the Sister Committee, said discussions would be held with the St James Parish Council as well as the Ministry of Health to determine a suitable piece of land on which to build the facility.

Addressing the Sister Cities' 10th annual fund-raising brunch, on Sunday in Atlanta's City Hall, Martin said the committee hoped to begin construction of the clinic as soon as the approvals had been given.

This year, the Atlanta Sister Cities Committee will stage two health missions in Montego Bay. The first will be held from June 14 to 17, while the second, from October 9 to 14. Martin said based on the extent of the need from previous missions, the Health Committee decided to add another mission this year.

President of the Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival, Glen Simmonds, made a donation to the Sister Cities Committee, saying the cheque represented past proceeds from the annual festival.

Entertainment

Several gospel artistes, including renowned soloist Jerard Placide, backed by the Tropical Breeze Band, provided entertainment at the afternoon's event.

Over the last 15 years, the mission served in excess of 37,000 patients in St James and neighbouring parishes.

The mission is undertaken in association with the St James Parish Council and is facilitated by the St James Health Depart-ment. It is one of the major events staged to coincide with Montego Bay's commemoration of achieving city status in October 1980.

The Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee is the oldest Caribbean organisation in Atlanta, having been established in 1972 by reciprocal agreements between the mayors of Atlanta and Montego Bay. It is one of 18 members of the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission, which has Mayor Shirley Franklin as its honorary chair.