Lee Ann Sherrill measures Bob Hodge’s blood pressure during the health fair held in Bethel Sept. 24. Members of the community gathered to discuss issues, get health related information, and receive a quick check up.
Bethel Community Center holds Health Fair
By Brandon Frye
Choctaw Nation
Bethel, Okla. - District 2 residents gathered in Bethel’s community center Sept. 24 for a health fair to discuss issues, get health related information, and receive a quick check up.
Tony Messenger, District 2 Council Member, spoke to the crowd about the need to decide between continuing use of well water or opting into rural water supplies, and said the area would soon receive a new community center.
Lunch was given out to attendees thanks to the help of locals like Mary Lou Baker, from Bethel, who served the crowd with a smile. Fruit baskets were awarded as door prizes to a handful of residents who attended.
During the event, Choctaw Nation employees worked booths aimed at serving the locals in an assortment of health related ways.
Karen Massey, Medicaid Education Coordinator and Certified Application Counselor, taught attendees about the ways the Affordable Health Care Act impacts them, stressing the need to register with the government as receiving Native health care.
Sarah Fennewald, with the Choctaw Nation Office of Environmental Health, taught attendees about the ways the Choctaw Nation helps members obtain and install carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers.
Annette Choate and Crystal Hensley, both Registered Nurses, measured blood sugar and taught attendees about diabetes.
Lee Ann Sherrill, also an RN, took members’ blood pressure. Bob Hodge, from Bethel, took advantage of every booth at the event.