Montserrat Heart 2012 is the theme of this week’s medical mission from the Mount Sinai Heart Centre for Cardiovascular Disparities MSHCCD. The team is lead by Montserrat-born Dr. Icilma Fergus-Rowe, Director of the MSHCCD who will be providing voluntary specialist services until August 3.

This initiative is part of the Ministry of Health’s Visiting Specialists Programme which brings medical practitioners, many of whom were born on island, home for short periods to volunteer their time to improve the medical care to residents.

The week began with a church service at the St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.

Blood pressure screenings were scheduled for Lookout Community Centre and the Old Salem Primary School on Monday. The screenings continue today  at Nadine’s Grocery in Sweeney’s and at the Old St. Peter’s School.

Additional patients’ visits are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday morning at the St. John’s hospital from 8:30am until noon.

On Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Fergus-Rowe and her team will be guests on the Talking Health radio programme on Radio Montserrat starting at 3pm.

There will be an education session entitled “Cardio Metabolic Risk Factors: What We Need To Know” at the Montserrat Cultural Centre from 6pm Wednesday evening. Attendees will be able to have their blood pressure checked between 5pm and 6pm prior to the event start.

Blood pressure screenings will be held at Government Headquarters in Brades Friday afternoon from 2pm.

The Ministry of Health has also scheduled opportunities for the team to visit tourist sites and also to receive a presentation on the proposed development of Little Bay and Carr’s Bay before their trip ends.