Tallahassee's Cascades Park hosted a community health and wellness fair on Saturday, June 4. It included a newly-launched regional effort to bring healthier living to underserved neighborhoods.
The centerpiece of the many booths representing multiple health and wellness providers was a big white van. It was the Mobile Health Unit from Tallahassee's Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. Unit Project Manager Dr. Claudette Harrell said it's been on the road a lot lately, visiting places where access to health services isn't only restricted by lack of money, but also lack of trust in traditional healthcare providers.
"We go into that community. We find the matriarchs, patriarchs and the voices of the community that the residents actually listen to. And we try to find out what the needs actually are. We don't try to guess at it."
Dr. Harrell said, besides providing free health screenings and basic diagnostic care, the mobile unit can refer people to low-cost and even no-cost care in the area.
