Women's health fair scheduled for Thursday
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PABLO — There are many reasons women do not visit the doctor or get health screenings — no time, no insurance, no money — but Thursday’s event gives them one less excuse.
The public is invited to join a full day of health-related booths with free screenings ranging from hearing tests to strokes.
“It covers health issues from head to toes,” said Tribal BEAR Project prevention programs director Niki Graham.
The fourth annual Women 4 Wellness is an opportunity for women to visit with hundreds of vendors about their health concerns. Last year featured 124 vendors and 1,100 participants at the health fair that provided numerous free screenings, drawings and consultations. Graham said this year the goal is 1,500 participants. She also encourages people to register online because lines have been long in the past.
The health fair is May 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center at Salish Kootenai College.
Some key features of the health fair include identification of cancers, stroke and heart attack issues, and weight management.
“We’ve had women who have not had a pap smear in 30 years,” Graham said. “They put it off because they lack insurance, don’t take enough time or they are scared. Every year, it never fails; we find some major issues.”
Each year, more and more medical providers donate their services and expertise to hundreds of participants.
While women are the targeted audience, men are more than welcome to participate.
“(Men) can get screenings; there is one men’s booth, but it’s focused on women,” Graham said. “Sometimes we think what we don’t know doesn’t hurt us, and if we don’t feel bad, we are okay. But … really we could be fighting a monster inside.”
