Chester Elementary opens new pediatric clinic

Local students, families to have full access to health care services within neighbourhood

pediatric clinic
Inclusive posters in the new Chester Elementary School paediatric clinic.  Anissa Calma-Brown/Toronto Observer

As a parent, Julie Esteban worries about how roughly some children play at school. That’s because her eight-year-old daughter, Madison Carino, is a retinoblastoma survivor.

Julie Esteban, 31 and her daughter Madison, 8 are excited for the new clinic added in Chester Elementary School.  (Anissa Calma-Brown/Toronto Observer)

Madison, a Grade 4 student, lost her left eye to the retinoblastoma and is constantly reminded to wear her protective glasses.

But now, East York students and their families, will have full access to health care services within their neighbourhood at Chester Elementary School.

“It is a huge relief to know that there will be an in-school clinic for the children,” Esteban says.

Esteban is glad there will be a professional that can assess the health of children within the school.

Chester Elementary School, near Pape and Cosburn avenues, opened its new pediatric clinic Sept. 11.

The clinic is a joint program of the South Riverdale Community Health Centre and the Toronto District School Board. The clinic will be open to 11 local East York schools.

The new pediatric health clinic opened at Chester Elementary School on Sept. 11. (Anissa Calma-Brown/Toronto Observer)

The Chester clinic will be staffed by two part-time pediatricians and a part-time psychologist.

Like most family doctor’s offices, it features a waiting room, a counsellor’s office and a private exam room. The one thing that differentiates it from other doctors’ offices is the number of posters on the walls made by students at the school.

Chester principal Sean Hume is excited families in East York will be able to take advantage of the services offered at the clinic.

“It’s an opportunity for families to have more access to medical facilities on the Danforth,” he said.

A private exam room at Chester Elementary School. (Anissa Calma-Brown/Toronto Observer)

According to the South Riverdale health centre, the East York area is often overlooked when it comes to medical services.

The clinic at Chester Elementary is currently open one day a week.

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Posted: Sep 19 2017 5:23 pm
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