Health fair brings community together

Medical screenings, advice and free goodies lined the tables in the parking lot of the Roy Wilkins Family Center on Saturday, August 25, causing a steady stream of residents and those passing by to stop in and participate in the Health and Wellness Expo.
“It’s good for the people in the community,” attendee Diana Davis-Swift said. Davis-Swift got her blood sugar and blood pressure checked at the south Jamaica area fair and said she received a clean bill of health. She noted that many members of the local community do not visit a doctor as often as they should, and this health fair provides them with a way to test their health.
“It’s very important because a lot of us don’t see doctors,” attendee Elisa Carter said.
Carter said she used the health fair as a way to double check what her doctor told her. She suggested others in the community attend the event as a way to get a “second opinion.”
“I’m 79 years old,” Carter said. “It’s important for me to be aware of my body.”
One of the most popular tables at the event was the Queens Hospital Center’s respiratory care unit. Here they tested visitors for symptoms of asthma and provided information on new treatment options for patients.
“Prevention is the best route to minimize the risk of hospitalization,” respiration therapist Bryan Hall said. “It’s best to nip it in the bud.”
Iva Westbrooke, who is the director of respiratory care, said it is important to have fairs such as this one because it allows people to learn about their own health. They might gain information that they can relay to their doctor for better care in an emergency situation.
“Then you know what you’re working with,” Westbrooke said. “You know what is going on.”
The New Parkway Hospital was testing visitors’ blood pressure, and hospital spokesperson Fred Stewart said that it is a major health issue in the Caribbean and black communities. He added that even though the hospital is located in Forest Hills, they wanted to go to the southeast Queens health fair to show they care about that community as well.
Stewart said that by attending the event, hospitals are providing patients access to health care.
“They provide additional knowledge,” Stewart said. “They help bring members of the community together.”