Meriwether County community health fair to feature free health screenings and family fun
Everyone is invited to celebrate the Meriwether County community at an annual spring Health Fair on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Manchester-Meriwether County Recreation Department at 121 Perry Street in Manchester.
Meriwether Family Connection, Meriwether County Health Department, and District 4 Public Health are hosting the community health fair to provide access to free and low-cost health screenings, information and resources that aim to improve the health and well-being of the community. About 400 people attended last year’s event.
The Meriwether County Health Department will provide free HIV rapid testing, BMI screenings (height, weight, and body mass index), health education, and car seat checks for proper installation. The Morehouse School of Medicine HEAL Clinic will offer free blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and other health screenings, and the Greenville Lions Club will provide free vision screenings.
In addition, Warm Springs Medical Center will offer blood pressure screenings and low-cost lab services, including complete blood count (CBC) for $5, thyroid (TSH) for $10, prostate (PSA, males) for $8, urine screenings for $3, and lipid panel for $15. Anyone wanting a lipid panel should not eat anything after midnight the night before the test. Payment may be made only by cash or check.
Always a crowd favorite, the Manchester Fire Department is returning to the Health Fair along with other local safety responders for the Manchester First Responder Touch-A-Truck event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families can bring their children to meet local first responders and to climb on and explore vehicles. At 12:30 p.m., the first responders will present a live simulation of a vehicle extrication.
A House of the Living God Church will be partnering with the R.O.O.T.S. Initiative to provide holistic health resources on mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness. They also will provide wellness experiences through singing bowls, chair mini-massages, and aromatherapy. In addition, students from LaGrange College and Mercer University will provide blood pressure checks, healthy plate demonstrations, a teddy bear clinic, and community resources.
Meriwether Family Connection will offer free books and resource guides, and the District 4 Public Health team will share information on several programs, including WIC & Nutrition, Breast & Cervical Cancer Prevention, Opioid Abuse Prevention, and HIV Prevention.
Other community partners at the event include but are not limited to the City of Manchester, Community Action For Improvement (CAFI), the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, and Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services.
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Meriwether County Family Connection focuses on early literacy, low birth-weight prevention, parent education, and family stability. Programs include Reading Cubs for ages 0–4, Reading Rangers for pre-K students, pop-up libraries, summer camps, and enrichment activities.
Family Connection also hosts parent events with literacy and cooking classes, plus maternal health resources. Monthly collaboration meetings are held the third Tuesday at 10 a.m. Learn more at meriwether.gafcp.org or email meriwetherfamilyconnection@gmail.com.
District 4 Public Health protects and improves the health and safety of communities in Meriwether and 11 surrounding counties. Meriwether County residents are served by District 4 Public Health through the Meriwether County Health Department, 51 Gay Connector Road, Greenville (706-672-4974) and the Manchester Health Center, 300 West Perry St., Manchester (706-672-4267).
For health department appointments, call 800-847-4262 or schedule online at district4health.org. Meriwether County’s two health departments offer immunizations, well-child check-ups (including school screenings), breast and cervical cancer prevention, family planning, pregnancy testing, HIV/STD/STI prevention and testing, and more. One also can request Georgia birth or death certificates at either location. Both health departments also are the home of Meriwether County’s Environmental Health offices and the county’s WIC and Nutrition Centers.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Natalie Shelton, natalie.shelton@dph.ga.gov or (706) 302-6707