Houstonians looking for a health boost can get their fix this Saturday. The Houston Health Department in collaboration with the Ibn Sina Foundation is rolling out a community health fair at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, located at 9318 Homestead Road. According to an announcement made by the health department, the event, part of a series aimed at improving community health across Houston, will kick off at 10 a.m. and wrap up at 2 p.m. on April 27.
Residents can roll up their sleeves for free COVID-19 and flu vaccinations at the fair, without the pain of making a dent in their wallets. On top of that, they'll be offered free diabetes, and blood pressure screenings. According to information from the health department, folks can also partake in oral health assessments, mental health training and get educated about where to find cancer screenings and mammograms.
Participants looking to get a leg up on their health coverage can sign up for medical benefits right there on the ground. Those benefits include Harris Health financial assistance, Medicaid, Medicare, and programs like SNAP and WIC. The health department's website states that anyone interested should bring along an ID card or passport, social security cards, a utility bill or receipt, proof of income, and a current bank statement to check program eligibility.
As part of its CATCH initiative, the health department is upping the ante by hosting 12 fairs throughout 2024. These fairs aren’t one-size-fits-all, rather each targets the specific health concerns in the varying neighborhoods where they are held. The goal is to ensure health professionals tune into each participant's particular needs. Pre-registration is available online or, they can sign up on the day of the event itself.
Those in need of more details can reach out to the Houston Health Department directly. Jennifer Garza and Juan Alvarado are on standby to field calls and emails, ready to throttle any confusion at 832-393-4301 or via emails at [email protected] and [email protected] respectively.
