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More than 100 people attended a women's health fair sponsored by The North Ward Center's Family Success Center in Newark, where they received glucose, body mass and blood pressure screenings, breast exams, and attended workshops on nutrition and breast health.
The event, which took place May 8 at Casa Israel Medical Day Care Center, was held in collaboration with the Newark Community Health Centers and Horizon Blue Cross-Blue Shield of New Jersey. The event was designed to create awareness of women's health issues and kicked off National Women's Health Week from May 10-15.
In addition to the sponsors, several other community groups had booths to distribute information, including the city's Department of Child and Family Well Being's Childhood Lead Poison Prevention Program, SPAN, Newark Now Financial Empowerment Center, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's Women's Health Program, the Division of Youth & Family Service, Casa Medical Adult Day Care, the Center for Autism at the North Ward Center and the North Ward Center's Latino Outreach program.
"The people were very excited and interested in the services being offered," Bohler said. "Many came because they don't have medical insurance and wanted to receive assistance. Newark Community Health Centers has received 29 follow-up calls for a free medical appointment."
Adrianne Davis, the Executive Director of The North Ward Center, said the health fair was a great way to reach out to members of the community.
"The women's health fair provided a great service to the community," Davis said. "We were able to get medical care and crucial information to people who might not otherwise be able to afford it."
The North Ward Center's Family Success program started in June 2007 and is one of 32 such sites in the state. Family success centers are open to any member of the community seeking support, information, and services.
The Newark Community Health Centers is one of six federally qualified health centers in Newark, East Orange, Orange and Irvington.
