2009 Summer Health Fair: Making a healthy connection
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/3899/1/2009-Summer-Health-Fair-Making-a-healthy-connection/Page1.html
By Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku
Published on 07/2/2009
Elaine Fifer had plenty of common sense observations about health to share between health screenings last Saturday at the Tri-State Defender Summer Health Fair and Family Fun Day at the Orange Mound Community Center.
Elaine Fifer had plenty of common sense observations about health to share between health screenings last Saturday at the Tri-State Defender Summer Health Fair and Family Fun Day at the Orange Mound Community Center.
“If you are healthy, you feel better about yourself,” said Fifer, who oversees Midtown Divas, a majorette group that performed at the health fair. “If you’re sick and can’t get health care, can’t get anybody (to help), that tends to grind on you and bring you down, knowing that you are sick.”
Fifer was among several hundred who attended the health fair, which included discussions on stress and healing, loads of take-home information, teeth cleaning and free screenings for things such as blood pressure, diabetes, heart ailments, glaucoma and HIV/Aids.
“We do have some people who don’t have good health benefits, or health insurance or are part of the community in Orange mound where they aren’t able to get access to good health care,” said Fifer. “So I am glad that they did this health fair up at Orange Mound Community Center to give people an opportunity to come out and get free health checks.”
Fifer said she helped drum up attendance for the health fair, telling everybody she knew to come out and get checked up. As some arrived for the event Fifer said she could tell by the looks on their faces that they were worried that something might be wrong with them health wise.
“But after they came in and got their free health screenings, they ended up being the people outside dancing and mingling. So it was a good thing,” said Fifer.
“I just went through my own physical health exam. I do suffer with a heart murmur; been suffering with it since I was a baby. However, this was an opportunity for me to come out and reconfirm that everything was OK.”
Rep. G. A. Hardaway, who labored over a hot grill during much of the event, said, “Tri-State Defender has done a wonderful thing here today.”
Phyllis M. Fickling, the Tri-State Defender’s general manager, said the health fair is part of the newspaper’s ongoing commitment to connect those with information to those who need it.
“The Tri-State Defender is an anchor to serve many community needs, at large. Where other businesses and individuals have to focus on their distinct locations, districts, or constituents, the Tri-State Defender is in a position to meet the community with a broader scope,” said Fickling.
“ In this case, the 2009 Summer Health Fair reached across the city to provide basic health exams to those who do not have access to healthcare. People came from across the street, across the bridge (from West Memphis), and across town.”
Fickling said she was especially moved by the exhibitors’ sincerity and commitment to provide a service to individuals who they would not normally see in a regular office visit.
“They expressed their desire to do more. I believe that if we did this on a monthly basis it would not be enough,” she said.
“As I heard the many stories about residents who did not believe that the services were free to those who said that the fair was their only opportunity to get checked out, it became clear to me how big the issue of lack of healthcare is.”
Mavis Renee Smith said she had been without health insurance since 2006.
“My insurance elapsed and my job closed out,” said Smith. “The health fair allowed me to get all the health screens that I needed. It came out well and fine. I heard about it on television last night on the news. I made my way out here.”
Maurice Scott, a community health worker with the Memphis & Shelby County Health Department TENNderCare program, was there when Smith arrived. TENNderCARE is a full program of check ups and health care services for children who have TennCare.
“When we were called to participate, we got very excited,” said Scott, explaining that community health workers are assigned to particular areas.
“We work with the area called 38114, which is Orange Mound. We came out to support you and all the people who are out here.”
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Elaine Fifer had plenty of common sense observations about health to share between health screenings last Saturday at the Tri-State Defender Summer Health Fair and Family Fun Day at the Orange Mound Community Center.
2009 Summer Health Fair: Making a healthy connection
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The Memphis Academy of Health Sciences choir. (Photo by Warren Roseborough) |
Elaine Fifer had plenty of common sense observations about health to share between health screenings last Saturday at the Tri-State Defender Summer Health Fair and Family Fun Day at the Orange Mound Community Center.
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Ghadory Martin, a six-year-old student at Coleman Elementary School, is getting his teeth cleaned by Lisa Taylor, an outreach coordinator at Firestone Dental Group. (Photo by Shirley Jackson) |
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Lilia Mattox, 7, gets her eyes examined by Clint Pike of Eye Care For You. (Photo by Warren Roseborough) |
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Rev. Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr. of New Olivet Baptist Church helped set the spiritual context for the Health Fair. (Photo by Warren Roseborough) |
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Nancy Brown (left) of St. Jude tests Angela Tyson for Sickle Cell. (Photo by Warren Roseborough) |
Fifer was among several hundred who attended the health fair, which included discussions on stress and healing, loads of take-home information, teeth cleaning and free screenings for things such as blood pressure, diabetes, heart ailments, glaucoma and HIV/Aids.
“We do have some people who don’t have good health benefits, or health insurance or are part of the community in Orange mound where they aren’t able to get access to good health care,” said Fifer. “So I am glad that they did this health fair up at Orange Mound Community Center to give people an opportunity to come out and get free health checks.”
Fifer said she helped drum up attendance for the health fair, telling everybody she knew to come out and get checked up. As some arrived for the event Fifer said she could tell by the looks on their faces that they were worried that something might be wrong with them health wise.
“But after they came in and got their free health screenings, they ended up being the people outside dancing and mingling. So it was a good thing,” said Fifer.
“I just went through my own physical health exam. I do suffer with a heart murmur; been suffering with it since I was a baby. However, this was an opportunity for me to come out and reconfirm that everything was OK.”
Rep. G. A. Hardaway, who labored over a hot grill during much of the event, said, “Tri-State Defender has done a wonderful thing here today.”
Phyllis M. Fickling, the Tri-State Defender’s general manager, said the health fair is part of the newspaper’s ongoing commitment to connect those with information to those who need it.
“The Tri-State Defender is an anchor to serve many community needs, at large. Where other businesses and individuals have to focus on their distinct locations, districts, or constituents, the Tri-State Defender is in a position to meet the community with a broader scope,” said Fickling.
“ In this case, the 2009 Summer Health Fair reached across the city to provide basic health exams to those who do not have access to healthcare. People came from across the street, across the bridge (from West Memphis), and across town.”
Fickling said she was especially moved by the exhibitors’ sincerity and commitment to provide a service to individuals who they would not normally see in a regular office visit.
“They expressed their desire to do more. I believe that if we did this on a monthly basis it would not be enough,” she said.
“As I heard the many stories about residents who did not believe that the services were free to those who said that the fair was their only opportunity to get checked out, it became clear to me how big the issue of lack of healthcare is.”
Mavis Renee Smith said she had been without health insurance since 2006.
“My insurance elapsed and my job closed out,” said Smith. “The health fair allowed me to get all the health screens that I needed. It came out well and fine. I heard about it on television last night on the news. I made my way out here.”
Maurice Scott, a community health worker with the Memphis & Shelby County Health Department TENNderCare program, was there when Smith arrived. TENNderCARE is a full program of check ups and health care services for children who have TennCare.
“When we were called to participate, we got very excited,” said Scott, explaining that community health workers are assigned to particular areas.
“We work with the area called 38114, which is Orange Mound. We came out to support you and all the people who are out here.”