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The Leaders of Delta Health & Wellness meet to discuss the upcoming Delta Health & Wellness Day, Jan. 29. |
What began as a small, on-campus healthcare fair has grown into a regionally-recognized event with perennial participants and exhibitors all staying true to the organizers’ original concept of Delta Health and Wellness Day – unlimited access to healthcare providers and services.
This year’s event will mark the 5th Annual Delta Health and Wellness Day (DHWD) and a celebratory “High Five to Health” theme will surround the happenings inside the Bolivar County Expo Center, Thursday, Jan. 29 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
“It’s a milestone we are tremendously proud of and we wanted to celebrate that,” explained DHWD Chair, Rori E. Herbison. “This day has become a source of pride to many of our volunteers. We work hard year-round to ensure the growth and success of this event.”
DHWD will again feature three primary components: 1. an exhibitor and vendor area where health-related organizations, healthcare professionals, non-profits and others set up booths to display and offer information or services to the public; 2. a testing area where healthcare practitioners will provide free screenings; and 3. a “Kids Korner” area where 4th and 5th grade students have scoliosis checks, participate in various health activities and receive valuable information on healthy eating, nutrition, exercise and safety.
New to this year’s line-up will be the advent of a “Teen Zone” targeted at high school sophomores. “Each year, we try to add something new to the day and this year, Delta State’s School of Nursing and specifically, Cheryl Oleis, really made the Teen Zone a top priority. In the past, we have had high school students in attendance and this format will provide information, displays and presentations specifically aimed to that demographic,” said DHWD Co-Chair, Meg W. Jones.
To date, the 5th Annual Delta Health and Wellness Day will offer vision screenings, hearing tests, bone density scans, memory scans (for Alzheimer’s), spirometry which measures lung function and can assess conditions such as asthma or pulmonary fibrosis, as well as blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings and cholesterol testing.
“As you can see, we are diverse in our offerings and the entire group feels like there will be tremendous benefit to the community through these free testing services,” continued Jones. “We can’t overlook the fact that these services will be free of charge to anyone that comes in the door January 29 and results are delivered that day, on-site.”
“Testing, and more importantly, free testing has always been our number one goal from the day we first came to the table about DHWD,” added Herbison. “We are grateful to our sponsors, our exhibitors – anyone and everyone – that makes our testing area possible. We know we are making an impact with these services.”
While exhibitors are still being accepted, many repeat exhibitors have already committed to the day’s activities, including past booth prize winner, North Sunflower Medical Center.
Sponsored by Delta State through its Center for Community and Economic Development and in cooperation with the Leaders of Delta Health and Wellness, the event is being recognized as part of Delta State’s Year of Partnership.
For more information on Delta Health and Wellness Day, please contact Meg W. Jones at (662) 846-4489.
For more information about the DSU Year of Partnerships, contact the DSU Delta Center at (662) 846-4311.
