Health fair coming this weekend

Organizers and participants agree that Saturday’s Health and Wellness Fair is a much needed opportunity to explore the health-care options available in eastern New Mexico.

With health tests, demonstrations, information from health- and wellness-oriented businesses and non-profit organizations, and safety information for the kids, the health fair has something for everyone, said Holly Glenn, marketing and events coordinator for the Clovis News Journal, the event’s host.

Entry forms for prizes from the News Journal will be given to each person who attends Saturday’s event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Master’s Centre end building at the corner of 21st and North Prince streets.

But the real prize for attending the health fair is the wealth of knowledge available, Glenn said.

“There’s a big need out there. People are really interested in the health field and they’re looking for new products,” Glenn said.

This will be the second year that the News Journal has hosted a community health fair, and it has grown, Glenn said.

“There are quite a few more booths than last year — so it will be bigger and better,” said Glenn, who estimated more than 50 businesses and organizations have purchased booths.

Terri Marney, coordinator of the Curry County Wellness Council, said the council will have about 17 booths at the fair. The council meets on a monthly basis to look at health issues important for Curry County, such as domestic violence, teen pregnancy or substance abuse, Marney said.

“Actually, the health fair allows the organizations to show the community what resources are available to them as citizens,” Marney said. “A lot of times you don’t know what’s out there.”

John Sharp, director of materials management for Plains Regional Medical Center, said they are looking forward to participating in the fair.

“As the leading health care provider in the community we feel like it’s important to be involved,” Sharp said. “It’s really about being a leader in our community in terms of health care education.”

Plains Regional is sponsoring three booths, one about asthma and smoking, one about mammograms and bone density and one about the new specialty services offered at the hospital.