The La Fargue Wellness Centre recently hosted an Open Day and Health Fair, marking one of the major activities to commemorate the official reopening of the facility following the completion of refurbishment and upgrade works. The event highlighted the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition’s continued commitment to improving access to quality primary health care services and bringing essential health interventions closer to communities.
Residents from La Fargue and surrounding areas benefited from a range of free health services offered during the Open Day. These services included cervical cancer screenings and breast examinations, with strong emphasis placed on early detection, prevention and health education.
Kadia Harrison, the Community Health Nurse attached to the La Fargue Wellness Centre highlighted the critical role of early detection in improving health outcomes, particularly in the management of cancer. “Early detection is paramount for you to improve your likelihood of survival, in the event that you are diagnosed and need management of cancer. And we’re also educating our public because education is basically the only key to change any situation that you’re currently in. So we’re educating our public on how to do their own self-exam, how to identify signs and symptoms that they need urgent medical attention, and the services that we offer, when we do offer it, and how often they can access the service.”
Nurse Harrison also highlighted the importance of public education as a key driver of positive health behaviour change. “So we have environmental health, we have agriculture, we have bureau of health, we have dental, nutrition, we also have universal health care representing. And universal health care predominantly is the driving force to our free PSAs, our free antenatal cares, the investigation required for pregnant mother and growing fetus.We have also mental health because we know whichever aspect of life, whatever situation that you encounter, mental health is always an aspect that will be affected. So we have mental health on board, we have substance abuse because in our society we lean more to alcohol as a coping mechanism. So today we are educating our public on better ways to cope with situations that we encounter on a daily basis.”
Strategically located along the highway, the La Fargue Wellness Centre serves a wide catchment area and is easily accessible to residents. As part of efforts to further enhance accessibility and convenience, the La Fargue Wellness Centre has extended its operating hours. In addition to
regular services offered Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the centre will now provide services on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.