Alto reaches to community through health fair

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Adam Gentry, 8, of Alto received a hug from Smokey the Bear who was a special guest at the “Alto Health for All” event. Smokey was brought by his friends at the Texas Forest Service. Progress photo by Faith Harper

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July 18, 2012

Alto reaches to community through health fair

Marivel Resendiz Jacksonville Daily Progress The Jacksonville Daily Progress Wed Jul 18, 2012, 09:42 AM CDT

ALTO — Vendors and agencies came to Alto's monthly health fair to educate the public on their services and how to improve their overall health.

The event “Alto Health for All” was sponsored by the Alto Economic Development Corporation. Kathi Davis, AEDC administrative assistant, said the health fairs began in the middle of March with a large health seminar. The agency has since hosted the Health for All event bimonthly.

“This program is to bring health care needs to the community so people don't have to go out of town — especially people with diabetes and high blood pressure — they can get their checks here instead of having to go to a doctor's office that may be in Lufkin, Nacogdoches or Jacksonville,” Davis said.

To help with attendance, the AEDC partnered with the Alto Food Pantry and will host the event at 166 Cooper Street every third Tuesday of the month. The health fair will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. followed by the opening of the food pantry from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Davis said a combined date is more beneficial to the citizens of Alto.

“The food pantry is once a month on the third Tuesday,” Davis said. “That's why we changed our health program, to get some of their clients.”

About nine vendors came to Tuesday's event.

Texas Health Steps, based in Longview, had a table of information on the Texas STAR program, and information on various Medicaid programs. The program is part of the Texas Department of Health Services, focusing on awareness of services available and preventive care to residents under 20.

The Area Agency on Aging in East Texas passed out information on services available to the elderly.

Dentistry for Children in Jacksonville gave away goodie bags full of dental essentials, checked participants teeth and gave referrals. Allissa Boren said the company came to outreach to the community.

“Since we have a new office in Jacksonville, we want to be as involved in Cherokee County as we are in Smith,” she said.

A Pinewoods Home Health Medical Equipment company performed free blood pressure tests. Allison Mann, respiratory therapist, said the company came to perform the tests and inform the area on services it provides with home health.

Gold Eye Clinic in Rusk preformed vision and glaucoma tests.

Diane Beene, manager of the company's Rusk office, said optometrists used to check for the disease by shooting a puff of air into the patient's eye. She said the new method involves numbing eyedrops, a drop of yellow dye and a special device that reads the pressure inside the eye.

“Glaucoma can be debilitating, and it can lead to blindness,” she said.

Jordan Health Services performed blood sugar tests and Total Care in Tyler was also in attendance.

Beyond Fitness in Rusk was also in attendance.

“We decided we are going to conquer obesity in Cherokee County,” said Steve Goode, co-owner. “So far we are doing it one pound at a time.”

Ronnie Kimbrough, Cherokee County Emergency Management Coordinator, and the Texas Forest Service and its friend Smokey the Bear were also passing out information.

Chris Taylor, executive director of Cherokee County Health Department, said the health fairs are a great thing for the city.

"The City of Alto is demonstrating that healthy change can happen anywhere, anytime,” he said. “Cherokee County Public Health not only fully supports their healthy initiative, but is an active partner."

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Alto reaches to community through health fair

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