21 Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer BRONX, NY: THE ORGANIZATION for International Development (OID) has confirmed that Dr Sydney McCalla will take over the responsibilities and management of the Jamaica Cancer Screening project. Since the inception of OID’s cancer screening journey, Dr McCalla, a lifelong member, has collaborated closely with the past president, Dr Michelle Malcolm-James, and will now be the director of the project, following her untimely passing. Originally from Jamaica, Dr McCalla’s commitment to cancer outreach and screening was shaped at Harlem Hospital, NY. His engagement with groups delivering free, annual breast-cancer screening and surgical care in the Caribbean is well documented. Since 2006, he has partnered with volunteers in the Dominican Republic, travelling annually to provide education and screening in underserved communities. He remains dedicated to increasing awareness and providing high-quality care to the patients that will benefit from the ongoing service provided by OID through its annual mission to Jamaica and globally. According to data from the OID, breast and cervical cancers are among the five most common cancers in Jamaica while prostate cancer is the most prevalent and deadliest among men. That statistic prompted the launch of a fundraising campaign to acquire a mobile mammogram van that will provide life-saving screenings and healthcare services to women who otherwise cannot access quality care. The mobile unit, when acquired and operational, will be equipped with a registration area, mammography machine, and examination room, offering comprehensive breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screenings, using minimally invasive techniques such as ultrasound imaging, Pap smears, and blood tests, targeting rural, urban, and remote communities across Jamaica. Founded in 1990 in NY by Roy Streete, DDS and a dedicated group of medical professionals, the OID’s concern extends beyond healthcare, encompassing training, education, employment, and economic needs to empower individuals to support themselves and their families. Dr Sydney McCalla to lead OID cancer-screening project New York City-based Jamaican doctors; Sydney McCalla (left), new head of OID Cancer Screening Project and Roy Streete (right), founder/president of the Organization for International Development, a non-profit, humanitarian outfit. CONTRIBUTED HOUSE CALL. Dr. Sydney McCalla during a recent visit to the Yallahs Primary School, Jamaica. CONTRIBUTED THE WEEKLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 16 - NOVEMBER 13, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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