The largest convention to come to St. Louis this year was also site of one of the largest health fairs.
The St. Louis County Department of Health brought its mobile medical unit and set up for health screenings in the vendor exhibition hall at the Church of God in Christ Convocation held last week at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. Some 40,000 to 50,000 participants attended the convention.
If they made it to the far corner past all of the church lady finery, pastoral attire, ladies and men’s suits, coats, ties, shoes, hats, furs and every possible accessory, participants could also check their blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and blood glucose.
For more than 30 years, the County has engaged in community outreach, going to churches, organizations and business for health education.
“You’ll see several health nurses, we have physicians here also, and other nursing staff and professional health educators who are actually certified public health nurses, a range of information at any of our health booths,” said Delores Gunn, M.D., director of the St. Louis County Department of Health.
“This is seventh one we’ve done this year, and the largest one we’ve done, and we are honored the Church of God in Christ asked us to sponsor a health fair.
“We also bring people general health education, because people, especially in our community, still do not really know or grasp, if they have diabetes, how do they know it, and what are the signs and symptoms? And if they have diabetes, what should their numbers be and what should they be looking for? What is their goal? What is healthy eating? Also focusing on other chronic diseases as well, like high blood pressure, obesity, etc.”
Dr. Gunn said putting together this large of a health fair was a collaborative effort between the City and County health departments and area public health centers.
“The individuals we are collaborating with are the American Red Cross, the City Health Department, the Integrated Health Network, representing all four of the FQHCs [federally qualified health centers], both of the health departments and all of the public health clinics, so we are here as a group together,” Gunn said.
Convention goers could make an appointment in advance or walk in to donate blood at the American Red Cross onsite blood drive.
For two days, physicians in the community also offered health lectures on a variety of topics, including healthy eating for longevity, hypertension, and recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression and stress.
Bethany Johnson-Javois, CEO of the Integrated Health Network of federally-qualified health centers in St. Louis, said its presence at the convention serves both the internal and external community.
“It is very beneficial for us to be here, because, in addition to the 40,000 that are coming externally, the community here, with this being at least 100 years old in St. Louis – this is our community,” Johnson-Javois said. “To interface with people we may not get to the health center or hospital – this is prevention at its finest.”
