The fairs, sponsored by GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) through its FX Trader and Western Union brands, were staged at their community health centres.

Comprising physicians of various disciplines, other medical personnel and a host of volunteers, the group offered services ranging from blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks to counselling and eye testing.

Motivated by the state of health care in the island, the HELP JA Medical Mission was organised by Jamaica-born Dr Robert Clarke who has been volunteering his services to the region for almost 20 years.

Dr Clarke said the medical mission started out of a shared concern with fellow Jamaica-born volunteers who wanted to give back to their country. "While volunteering across the region, it took us a long time to get back to Jamaica, and so in 2010, we decided to form this medical mission which would visit annually and offer our services free of cost," he said.

"They can't or won't go to the doctor for various reasons, they're scared or they can't afford it, among other reasons."

Coordinator Norma Russell, GKMS agent in Spanish Town, confirmed the large turnout at each staging.

This was endorsed by Western Union's marketing manager, Vinette Rowe: "Western Union is much more than remittances. We are deeply rooted in community involvement," she said.