‘A Good Day’
Health fair readies kids for school ‘from day one’
Latausha Young saved gas, money and time Saturday by taking her two children to the Whitehaven Community Health Fair.
“I would’ve had to pay if I had taken them to the clinic or the doctor,” said the 39-year-old, who pays a 20 percent co-pay for each regular doctor’s visit.
“It’s a big relief because you have the shots, the health screenings and the dentist. That would’ve been six separate appointments.”
Young and about 700 others visited the fair at Hillcrest High School to get children prepared for the first day of school by getting all the necessary health tests, dental checkups and immunizations.
The Shelby County Health Department also opened the doors of seven clinics around Memphis Saturday to help parents avoid lines. The next Saturday clinics are scheduled for July 27, Aug. 10 and 24.
Harold Collins, Memphis City Council member and host of the 13th annual event, said this year organizers for the first time provided a bouncy castle for children to play in, but otherwise he tries to keep it simple.
“People are in so much need, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “These are not just people from Whitehaven. There are people here from South Memphis and all around.”
The Southern College of Optometry didn’t perform eye exams for children, as planned, because the college’s students are out for the summer, Collins said. He said the college will schedule a vision event for children later.
“We know that this is a big school year not only for the schools, but for the children,” he said. “They have to be ready on the first day to compete academically. We want to take away any hindrance that would keep kids out of school the first day.”
Hazel Moore, health fair organizer, said some chil- dren miss weeks of school because parents don’t get them tested and vaccinated.
“That’s unacceptable,” Moore said. “They need to be educated, so we also try to educate the parents.”
While people sang along to old Michael Jackson hits that floated through the school, Devin Pettis, 11, was secluded in a quiet room where he had to raise his hand each time he heard a beep. Devin passed the hearing test, but he missed one highpitched beep because, the proctor said, he listens to music on head phones that are too loud. He promised the examiner he would turn down the music.
Carldora Pettis, Devin’s mother, said she brought her two children to the fair to make sure they’re healthy so they can learn.
“I want him to get to know his teachers, where everything is and focus on his grades from day one. That’s important,” she said about the sixth-grader who will go to Havenview Middle for the first time this fall. “This is helping a lot financially and with time. Today was a good day for this.”