Public Employee Press

Health Fairs
“Super-size it?” Say “No!”

As Americans, both young and old, grow into super-size proportions and diabetes takes on the dimensions of an epidemic, another trend offers a counterbalance to unhealthy lifestyles.

Health fairs are being offered to stimulate strategies of healthy behavior on the part of individuals seeking to prolong their lives. On Sept. 20, the Quality of Work Life Committee of the Human Resources Administration held its 20th anniversary health fair at DC 37.

“This was the best one we’ve had,” said Janice Haley, who has been a QWL committee member for the past eight years. “We had a lot of pre-screenings and people were able to get so much information.”

Over 600 people participated in the fair, which offered everything from tasty and nutritious foods and recipes to screenings for body fat and blood pressure, and mountains of educational material.

As Mirian Moses, a spokeswoman for the New York Black Nurses Association, explained, “We try to influence the health of minorities through providing lots of screenings.”

Moses pointed out that while many people won’t go to a doctor, health fairs offer them an opportunity to have access to testing and information.

“Heart disease is a great killer of women — not just men,” she noted. “Women need to be aware of the symptoms of strokes and heart attacks.” Diet is another important part of healthy living. “That’s how we dig our graves — with our spoons,” she said.

The DC 37 Women’s Committee sponsored a health fair on Oct. 26.

Committee Chair and Local 957 President Walthene Primus noted that, no matter what else is happening in the lives of very busy women, health is always on the agenda.

“Health is so important for our members,” Primus said.

A variety of traditional and non-traditional healing methods were featured at the fair. Retiree Lauryn Wilson dropped by to investigate remedies to boost her energy level. After 38 years on the job, Wilson, a former member of Local 1549, became very active with the Retirees Association and now serves on several committees. She attended the fair to explore alternative avenues to keep going. “I want to see what type of things can help build me up and build up my body,” she said.