The city of Jacksonville is hosting a health fair, open to anyone in Cherokee County, from 12 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at 501 S. Ragsdale St. in the main lobby and outside UT Health.
ReNissa Wade, assistant city manager, said she began planning in June, hoping to bring a mobile mammography unit in for employees. After contacting UT Health, she discovered the hospital could help facilitate a larger event. It was then that what was intended to provide for health needs of city employees began to morph and grow into an event for the general public.
“There is a health gap and need in the community. We have a lot of people here in town who could be considered impoverished or in the low to middle level income levels that may or may not have insurance,” Wade said.
Desiring to make the event available to the entire county, the event was scheduled for the afternoon in hopes of making it accessible to more people.
“I am really excited about how big it has grown,” Wade said. “I really hope the community takes part in it.”
UT Health, Modine and the Jacksonville Independent School District have all partnered with the city to
produce this event.
Mammograms will be provided at the event by UT Health. Women between the ages of 40 and 75 who are uninsured, may qualify for free screening through DEFEAT (Delivering Education, Focused navigation and Equitable Access to breast cancer screening in East Texas). Those with health insurance may schedule a mammogram, but will need to bring their insurance cards. Appointments begin at 9 a.m. and can be scheduled by calling 903-531-8000.
Flu vaccines, vision tests by the Lion’s Club and other free health testing will also be available.
Music, food trucks and give-aways will add a festival atmosphere to the event.
For those willing to donate blood, Carter BloodCare will be on-site.
Booths from various vendors and organizations will provide information about educational and community resources.
The police and fire departments will be participating as well.
In Wade’s opinion, success of this event will not be determined by turnout. If those attending the health fair receive information that motivates them to take action regarding their health, whether obtaining screening or understanding specific symptoms could be indicative of certain diseases or conditions, that would be considered a success.