The Advancing Health Literacy Program (AHLP) of Pine Bluff hosted a Spring Health Fair at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on Thursday, March 24th, featuring partners and local/state organizations. The fair featured all three vaccine doses for all ages, free health screenings, and more.
Of those involved included Arkansas Blue Cross, Ambetter Health Insurance, Arkansas Minority Health, Jefferson County Comprehensive Care System, Jefferson Regional Hospital, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Cooperative Extension Program, Pine Bluff Parks and Recreations, the Arkansas Foundation for Medical care (AFMC), and more. Kelley Bohlmann, AHLP Program Coordinator put the event together and she spoke with Deltaplex about the purpose and overall turnout.
“Our spring health fair was to raise the awareness of those in our community regarding their healthcare, COVID-19, and simple health literacy, many who attended acquired information that they either hadn’t known or did not use. Our goal was to make sure they had resources and information in their hands to make better decisions for their health” said Bohlmann.
The fair also featured various mental health services located locally including, Identity Behavioral Health Services, Community Empowerment Council, and Cross Hope Treatment Centers. These organizations offer various services some include therapy, substance abuse prevention, and treatment depending on the circumstances.
On another subject, the fair also featured giveaway prizes from prominent businesses in Pine Bluff like Dillards, Sissy’s Log Cabin, Walmart, Arkansas Printing, FBT Bank and Mortgage, Trotter Toyota, and more. AHLP was able to complete all of the donations and also give out five $25 visa gift cards. Bohlmann also further elaborated on those visa gift cards, “The Mayor’s office along with the AHLP initiative was able to give those gift cards for every person that received a first, second, or booster at the event as an incentive”.
Bohlmann also announced that the program will be hosting future health fairs and that information is developing for this summer and this coming fall.
