Juneau Lions Club members, from left, Chris Cummins, Dr. Shannon Farr and Karen Cummins, provide free vision screenings at last year's Health Hair at the Nugget Mall. This year's Health Fair will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Nugget Mall.
Story last updated at 9/27/2009 - 1:29 am
A local annual health fair is seeking medical and nonmedical community volunteers to help out, as always.
The Juneau Community Health Fair will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Nugget Mall.
Only one of 120 health fairs held annually across the state, the local fair is organized by the Alaska Health Fair Inc., a nonprofit agency that has organized health fairs in Juneau for the past 20 years.
According to Pam Nelson, Southeast Program Director for Alaska Health Fair Inc., the fairs provide health and blood screenings to people who may not have access to these services.
"The health fairs encourage and allow individuals to take charge of and be engaged in their health," she said.
Blood screenings include a chemistry/hematology profile, which includes cholesterol levels, thyroid screening, vitamin D screening and prostate disease screening. Cost for all these at the fair is $145.
"The low-cost blood screenings are very beneficial for those who do not have health insurance or even those who do have insurance but have a high deductible," Nelson said.
Anyone wanting to have the chemistry/hematology blood screening will need to fast - which means no food or drink, except water - for 12 hours prior to having their blood drawn.
Fair exhibitors will include the Juneau Flying Lions Club, who will provide free vision screenings for anyone six months or older; Northland Audiology, providing free hearing screenings; Curves, providing height, weight and BMI; and JRC The Alaska Club, holding fitness demonstrations all day.
"We have more than 20 exhibitors who will have booths set up in the mall with information that people can use to take charge of their health and well being," Nelson said. "We have some new exhibitors for this fair, which is very exciting."
However, this fair needs volunteers - medical and nonmedical - to succeed, as all participants are volunteers.
"Volunteers are a critical part of the Health Fair; they allow Alaska Health Fair Inc. to serve in communities at no cost to participants," Nelson said. "Without volunteers, sponsors and partners in each community, health fairs would not and could not happen."
Nonmedical volunteers help with registration, vision testing, height and weight measurements and other jobs throughout the duration of the fair. Medical volunteers capable of performing blood draws are needed, as well as nurses, physician assistants and other medical personal to provide evaluation and checkout screening to review the participants health form, re-check blood pressure, respond to health questions and make referrals to local resources as needed.
Alaska Health Fair is not a state or government agency and does it receive any state or government funding. It has brought free health screenings and low cost blood tests to many communities in Alaska since 1980.
"This is only possible because of the many committed and devoted volunteers and generous sponsors in each Alaskan community," Nelson said.
To learn how to become a volunteer or for more information, contact Pam Nelson at 723-5100 or e-mail ahfse@gci.net.
• Contact Neighbors editor Kim Andree at 523-2272 or by e-mail at kim.andree@juneauempire.com.
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