U.S. Congressman visits Kinston health fair

David Jones looked up at Lenoir Community College Medical Assistant instructor Becky Dail as one of her pupils told her the results of Jones’ blood pressure screening. “Is that good or bad?” Jones intently asked Dail after the student said the results in medical terms. “You’re good,” she said to him.

Dail and her students performed free blood pressure, bone density, cholesterol and glucose tests as part of a Cultural Heritage-Community Health Fair the Kinston Community Health Center held Saturday in its parking lot off North Queen Street in honor of National Health Center Week. Although Jones served as one of Dail’s fellow vendors at the fair and only had to walk to the neighboring booth to get his blood pressured checked, Dail encouraged all to take part in the services offered, especially given the country’s tough economic times.

“The community needs to be aware of safe health because some do not go to the doctor for financial reasons,” Dail said. “There are resources out there for them and this event shows it.”

As many as 15 health care-related agencies had booths to educate the more than 100 attendees on how to stay healthy. Those participants included Jones, of the Ready, Set, Walk club, which partners with Common Ground in Eastern North Carolina to promote healthy lifestyles among those economically disadvantaged.

A Veterans Administration Mobile Mental Health Van took part in the fair and U.S. Congressman Walter B. Jones addressed attendants around 10:45 a.m. for approximately 15 minutes. During the congressman’s short time at the facility, he said he was impressed by the facility’s features and said he expects health centers like the one in Kinston to continue to play a vital role, as more troops will call upon them as they return from Afghanistan and Iraq. “We need to continue to expand and reach out to get those that cannot afford health an opportunity to come to a center like this to be treated,” Jones said. “It is not all about dollars and cents, but that the taxpayer knowing they are helping somebody down the road.”

Van Braxton, Lenoir County’s representative in the N.C. House, agreed with Jones that the health center and the organizations participating in Saturday’s fair play a vital part in the community as they help people with issues, ranging from drug rehabilitation to teen pregnancy, find help.

“A lot of people in the community do not know what this brown building is and with events like this they can see what the Kinston Community Health Center does and how it can be beneficial, as well as seeing what other volunteer agencies can help in times of need,” he said. “I wish every county would have one of these because it would give much needed health care to people who cannot afford it and also take some of the burden off the hospitals.”

Wesley Brown can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wbrown@freedomenc.com.