Students at Wake Forest University School of Medicine will sponsor "Share the Health," a health fair targeting African Americans, Hispanics and other underserved populations, Saturday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Marketplace Mall. Admission is free. Spanish-language interpreters and health care literature printed in Spanish will be available.
Health care professionals from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, the community and area organizations will address the needs of children and adults in a variety of areas including: infant mortality, immunizations, nutrition, safety, violence prevention, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, sexual health, domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse.
According to the Forsyth County Department of Public Health, chronic disease and lack of access to medical care are the largest threats to the community. In particular, East Winston residents were identified at a disproportionate rate as having health access problems due to financial hardship, lack of medical insurance and transportation barriers.
"The goal of the health fair is to address the needs of underserved populations in our community by offering basic screening services, information from health care professionals about concerns and prevention and information about free health services in the community," said Isabel Newton, a second-year medical student at Wake Forest. "In addition, we will offer free blood typing for participation in the National Bone Marrow Registry and an opportunity to join the Organ Donor Registry. Minorities are grossly underrepresented in these areas making
the possibility of finding a suitable bone marrow transplant even more unlikely."
Upon registration, individuals will be directed to booths at the fair that address their specific health concerns. A vitals station, staffed by Wake Forest medical students, will record height, weight and blood pressure before sending participants on their way to the various free services and screenings at the fair, including:
- Free glucose screening.
- Free bone marrow typing.
- Free consultations, demonstrations and literature from health care providers and other professionals.
- Free child identification kids from the Winston-Salem Police Department.
Literacy promotion is also a component of the health fair. Morning disc jockey Africa Perry of 102 JAMZ will read to children. Free books will be given to all children who participate.
Special activities have also been planned for children including face painting and games. And participants who visit the various stations at the health fair will be provided free healthy snacks as well as gift bags and a chance to win door prizes.
Entertainment will be provided by "Say Ah," an a cappella women's chorus and the "Ultrasounds," an a cappella men's chorus. Both groups are made up of first-and second-year Wake Forest medical students.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center clinical staff including Wake Forest University Physicians, nurses and community health care providers will take part in screenings, lectures and demonstrations at the health fair.
"Share the Health" is sponsored by Wake Forest University School of Medicine in conjunction with:
- Forsyth County Public Health Department.
- Forsyth County Emergency Medical System.
- N.C. Poison Control Center.
- Forsyth County Safe Kids Coalition.
- National Marrow Donor Program through the American Red Cross.
- Forsyth County Public Health Department.
- Fit-4-A-Kid Program through Chrysler cars
- Casa Guadalupe, a service for Hispanics through Catholic Social Services.
- The Breast Center at the Women's Health Center of Excellence at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
- AIDS Care Services.
- Carolina Donor Services.
- Planned Parenthood.
- Winston-Salem Police Department.
For information, contact Shirley Domingo, 896-0657, or Isabel Newton, 768-2149.
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Contact: Jim Steele or Mark Wright, (336) 716-4587.