By Katie Farrell Lovett
Staff writer
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NEWBURYPORT — Health Director Bob Bracey is working on plans to hold a community-wide health fair during a weekend this fall.
Bracey, who is collaborating on the event with the mayor's office, is seeking volunteers from the business community to sign up to take part in the program. The health fair will be held at City Hall and will likely fall on a Saturday in late September or early October, when it can tie into breast cancer awareness month.
Residents will receive educational information and aid during the event, designed to promote community health awareness, Bracey said.
Topics will relate to self-diagnosis and screenings, as well as information on health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, hypertension, glaucoma and skin disease, Bracey said.
Local fitness facilities will also be on hand to discuss physical fitness and nutrition, he added.
The health department is still seeking other volunteers, he said. Vendors could include the public safety departments, the Chamber of Commerce and Anna Jaques Hospital. The city is hoping the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the American Lung Association will also send representatives.
He is hopeful area substance abuse programs will attend, as well as nutritionists. The fair could also include a blood drive or a rabies clinic, as well as programs such as a child identification program, through which minors are fingerprinted, Bracey said. He would also like to have a volunteer agree to do mass body index readings for obesity.
Vendors can sign up to take part at no cost.
"We're hoping it's going to be a huge event," Bracey said.
Any local business that specializes in the health, fitness or nutrition field and is interested in volunteering can contact Bob Bracey at 978-465-4410.
