Next Saturday, Sept. 16, Austin Public Health will host Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day at the Delco Activity Center at 4601 Pecan Brook Drive. It’s an effort by the department to raise community awareness about regular doctor visits and health screenings. Communities of color, in particular, are affected by illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease, which can be caught and treated with regular medical care. According to a city press release, “cancer and heart disease account for 36% of death in Hispanics and among African Americans cancer and heart disease is the leading cause of death. Asians are 7 times more likely to have Type II Diabetes than the general population.” Part of the problem is that barriers many people in those communities face – regular access, language, insurance – force many to wait until they are in a crisis that forces them into the doctor’s office or an emergency room. Beginning at 10 a.m., 40 different medical providers and organizations will offer blood sugar and blood pressure screenings, pregnancy tests, HIV/STI testing, flu vaccinations and other screenings. Call Darrell Barnett at 512-972-5183 for more information.
Next Saturday is Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day
