COPE hosts 1st Annual Community Health Fair

January 15, 2009  | 

St. Edwards Catholic Church, a member congregation of COPE, Congregations Organizing People for Equality, hosted its first annual community health fair at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center at West End Park in New Iberia Louisiana, that was attended by more than 75 people.  Participants included healthcare professionals from Dauterive Hospital, Iberia Comprehensive, Louisiana Technical College, Genesis Health Care, Lachip, Social Security Administration, City Pharmacy, and two Family Practice Physicians. The health fair was birthed in response to hundreds of health surveys conducted with parishioners of St. Edwards and one to ones initiated throughout the community where the church resides. 

Among the findings of their outreach efforts was a 46 year old New Iberia woman whom is homebound due to severe obesity along with several whom don’t have heath insurance.  Thus, the need for a health fair to get professional diagnoses for those not accessible to preventative health care and to educate the community on services available for those in need.  Services included blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, height and weight, mental health counseling, children’s health care, preventative health tips, and a wealth of information concerning Social Security benefits. As a result of the health fair, many were diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension that were not aware of it.  These facts alone proved the success of this event!  Also, one of the staff of COPE whom is new to the area, found a Primary Care physician at this health fair for his family!  This is the first of many activities that the congregations of COPE plan to have to address the many health care needs of their communities.