The 2018 free Community Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 16, at Watkin Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 800 S. Juniper St.
The community is invited to attend. Several booths will be set up to address health care issues that had been undiagnosed and to help prevent others, according to a news release.
The health fair will include a free electrocardiogram (EKG), sign ups for mammograms, heart attack risk assessment, HIV testing, prostate screening (by blood draw only), oral care, weight balance test, blood type test, and STD (sexually transmitted disease) prevention and detection, cholesterol testing, diabetes screening and blood pressure check.
The health fair chairman is James Mazique, a registered nurse at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. He and other health care professionals will conduct the fair.
Participating health care professionals are Jefferson County Health Department, Jefferson Comprehensive Care, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, JRMC, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Nursing, Arkansas Heart Hospital and Arora (Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency.)
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Several awareness booths will be set up for people to visit. Confidential charts will be provided for the guests. It will show parameters for the measurement of each test. The health care professional will also provide exit counseling to the guests.
“The objective of the health fair is to provide crucial health care services to those in need who may be unable to afford them otherwise, detect health care issues not previously diagnosed and prevent others from having to cope with the struggles of having health issues,” according to the release.
“Pine Bluff is a community of approximately 49,018 people; an estimated 34 percent are without health insurance. The lack of health insurance and costly health care are barriers that currently prevent many from receiving even the basics of services. Research shows that both chronic and acute health problems are extremely high among low-income. Our project goal is to encourage the maintenance of good health through health promotion, screening and prevention of illness,” according to the release.
The health fair is made possible through grants in part from the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation.
The UAMS Mobile MammoVan will provide on-site mammograms by appointment. With or without insurance, pre-registration is required, according to the release. To register, call the UAMS Mobile Mammography, 1-800-259-8794.
The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation (APCF) will host a free prostate cancer education and screening event at the health fair. To register for the screening, men can call Mazique.
Details: James Mazique, chairman, dwightmazique@yahoo.com or 870-489-1614, or call the church for van transportation at 534-1649.