A local fraternity chapter will host a free health and wellness fair next month at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Paducah.
The third annual ALPHA Cares Community Health and Wellness Fair is hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Sigma Xi Lambda Chapter in partnership with Baptist Health Paducah and Mercy Health — Lourdes Hospital. The event is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on June 15.
In a news release about the fair, organizers said no pre-registration is required, and the event will include door prizes and giveaways. The fair will include a keynote speech at noon by Dr. Kelly C. McCants, the executive medical director of the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program and the Executive Director of the Norton Institute for Health Equity. McCants is African American, and the news release said he is “deeply aware of structural racism and inequities, as he has experienced them personally.”
That personal experience “helps him understand issues and concerns from a patient and provider perspective,” the news release explained. “Through work with heart failure patients, Dr. McCants learned the power of addressing socioeconomic dynamics to help patients achieve recovery.”
After McCant’s speech, the fair kicks off at 1 p.m., offering free screenings, education and other materials including: HIV and hepatitis C testing, Diabetes A1C screenings, blood pressure checks, women’s health supplies, substance use and harm reduction resources, cancer genetics and education, and mental health resources.
“In an effort to amplify our mission of advocating for our communities, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Sigma Xi Lambda Chapter in Paducah, KY, has partnered with Baptist Health and Mercy Health for our third annual ALPHA Cares Health and Wellness Fair. As there is often a disconnect with community outreach, our goal with ALPHA Cares is to help our communities stay happy and healthy,” ALPHA Cares Chair Willie Mitchell said in a statement included in the news release.
Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church is located at 1201 South 8th St.
