October has come and gone, and whether you were appreciating the foliage change color, traveling south to escape our cold blast, or participating in one of the city’s many trunk or treats, one event stood out from the rest; the 8th Annual Community Health and Wellness Fair. Why did this event stand out, you may ask? It’s because time after time, year after year, this event has saved lives.
“This fair, which I have attended for the past six years, is, by far, the best community outreach we’ve ever seen.” Said former Hartford City Councilman Kyle Anderson. “This health fair saved my life. It was through this free service; testing and screening, that I learned that I was pre-diabetic. The results were immediately sent to my primary care physician, who applauded the Farmington Valley Chapter of the Links, Inc. for their superior services.” Another fair attendee, Latoya Martindale, a teacher and parent said, “I had my first mammogram during the 2014 health fair. Nervous and not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of care and professionalism of the staff on the Hartford Hospital mammography van. Shortly after that visit, I was notified by the hospital that I would require additional screening as they were concerned about a spot that was found. Thankfully, everything turned out fine and I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if the outcome was positive?”
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in Connecticut, diabetes is the seventh leading causes of death. Studies also show that 40% of women believe they will be diagnosed with breast cancer sometime in their lives. Though both of these statistics can be intimidating, ultimately getting screened is the best prevention tool currently available. However, with many Hartford residents either not being able to afford health care or, not having sufficient health care, screenings and necessary preventative care can be a challenge.
There is no charge for the event and no attendee is ever turned away because of their inability to pay for services. This was a goal of the Links and a promise that carries through even to date.
This year, the event had a change of venue. With their previous site no longer in use, securing an event space large enough to host the expected crowd would have been a challenge if not for the leadership of Kim Oliver, Director of Families, Children, Youth, and Recreation with the City of Hartford. The site best identified to meet the needs of the planning committee was Parker Memorial Community Center. Located at 2621 Main St. Parker stood at the heart of Hartford’s North End which allowed for greater participation among the community. The health fair included Zumba, games for children, giveaways, informative resource booths, interactive exhibits, food, and of course multiple free screenings. In total over 750 people attended the fair over the course of the day.
Geneva Williams, event creator, said she was motivated to develop something like this because of the great need she saw among her students. Ms. Williams was a teacher at the Frank T. Simpson School and said, “In order for a child to be successful academically they need to be healthy and so do their parents.” She searched for a way to bring services directly to the community while creating an environment for service providers and medical professionals to engage in a meaningful way with the community and each other, in hopes of creating a sustainable model. She is proud to see that legacy continue into 2019.
The Community Health and Wellness fair was brought to you in partnership by the Farmington Valley Chapter of the Links, Inc., Hartford Public Schools, Health and Human Services, and the City of Hartford.
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