Heritage Health Fair virtual event called a success

February 11, 2022

Heritage Health Fair virtual event called a success

MOBILE, Ala. — In observance of National Black HIV Awareness Day on February 7, the Mobile County Health Department’s Ryan White Program hosted a Heritage Health Fair. Because of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the event was conducted virtually via a Zoom call in lieu of a traditional health fair.

Michelle Bernard, the Clinic Administrator for MCHD’s Ryan White Program, said the event was well attended. More than 50 participants logged in and took part in the discussion.

A varied group of presenters took part. The group included: MCHD’s Health Equity Office; Sickle Cell Disease (Aleida Johnson); Wise Woman program (Shakari Beechem); Blendia by India (India); MCHD’s Community Prevention program; Community Insurance Partners (Karissa Evans); MCHD’s Fatherhood Initiative; The Bridge Center (Regina Alexander); Catholic Social Services (Buffy Marston); Feeding the Gulf Coast (Austin Andrews); and Lifelines Counseling Center (Chenel Chapman).

“MCHD was pleasantly surprised at the turn out and look forward to holding the event in person next year,” Bernard said.

The health fair closed with a meditative sound bath conducted by Blendia by India. Bernard said the sound bath reminded the attendees to make time for self-care because it is essential to the well-being of individuals who find themselves in stressful situations.

The first National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was marked in 1999 as a grassroots-education effort to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and treatment in communities of color. This observance is an opportunity to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment among black communities.