SANTEE - To promote the health and well-being of his constituents, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn on Friday hosted the I-95 Corridor Health Fair in conjunction with his 18th annual Rudolph Canzater Memorial Classic golf tournament in Santee.
Held in a big tent at the Quality Inn & Suites, the fair featured a variety of free health screenings, including glaucoma, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood-sugar tests. Representatives of pharmaceutical companies and other health-related organizations were on hand to answer questions and provide materials on various health problems and concerns.
“I am pleased at the good turnout for today’s health fair,” Clyburn said. “It was well-coordinated and will provide vital health information for residents of the area.”
Clyburn had his blood pressure checked at the fair, joking “It usually goes up in the presence of the media.”
A Mobile Eye Testing Station sponsored by The Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation offered glaucoma and vision testing.
“This is the first time I’m taking advantage of this service and I’m looking forward to it,” said Helen Canty of Santee as she waited for her eye examination.
Tony Deas of Florence was impressed by the professionalism displayed at the fair, saying “It was certainly worth the trip.”
Bryan Gilmore, 7, was accompanied by his grandmother, Barbara Gilmore, and grandfather, Santee Councilman John Mark Gilmore. The Gilmores spoke at length with Teresa Nash of the Low Country Healthy Start, a program of the South Carolina Office of Rural Health, which serves Allendale, Bamberg, Hampton and Orangeburg counties.
The group provides services such as transportation and child care vouchers for Social Services appointments, health education classes, childbirth education classes, infant/child health services, social work services and support and focus groups.
Together Rx Access, a free prescription savings program for eligible individuals and families, was represented at the fair to assist those in need of their services.
Anthony Quattrone, state director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, addressed the organization’s efforts to prevent, delay or alleviate chronic diseases through simple changes in behavior and lifestyle and through more aggressive management of chronic disease.
“We urge everyone to join the fight against preventable chronic disease,” Quattrone said.
Jesse J. Price, manager of federal and government affairs for Eli Lilly and Company, presided over a booth devoted to the Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered Diabetes program. The effort is a grassroots movement targeting African-Americans to help individuals, families and neighborhoods overcome barriers to success in living with diabetes.
“South Carolina has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country,” Price said.
The program offers nutritional and fitness tips and advice on how to live with diabetes on a day-to-day basis. Participants received guidance about which foods to eat to better enable them to manage their disease.
“Our goal is to empower the patient,” Price said.
T&D Correspondent Shirley Upton can be reached by e-mail at writer@ntinet.com.