HHD Adminstrative Coordinator, Barry Barnes (center) pictured with Houston Health Day participants
This past weekend, the Houston Health Department hosted their 2nd Annual Houston Health Day at the Judson Robinson Community Center, where scores of family and friends came out to enjoy the free event that was jam-packed with fun activities, live demos, games and prizes.
The Forward Times was on hand to witness attendees learn how to live healthier, as well as how to access the wide range of health services and programs offered by the Houston Health Department, and enjoyed live demos on healthy eating and cooking, yoga, Zumba, hip hop fitness, line dancing and a leisurely fun walk through Hermann Park. While attendees caught performances by step dancers and cheerleading groups while their children played on a moonwalk, they also were able to enter drawings for exercise and health related prizes such as bikes, scooters and helmets, dumbbell sets, jump ropes, pedometers, sporty drawstring backpacks and more. Experts were on hand to show families how to connect to medical care, affordable health care plans, adolescent health services, human services, and how to prepare for emergencies and disasters. They also learned about a variety of health issues and engage with the Houston Health Department’s programs and services including immunizations, dental health, family planning, free diabetes center, nurses home visitation, childhood lead poisoning prevention, farmers’ markets, community gardens and child vision screening and referrals, and attendees also became more familiar with ways to help prevent chronic diseases, HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases, tuberculosis and colorectal cancer.
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program helped people sign up for free nutritious foods and nutrition education for women who were pregnant, breastfeeding, had given birth in the last six months or had children up to age 5 who have nutrition-related health problems. The Harris County Area Agency on Aging offered the elderly and their families plenty of information about senior services that promote independence and well-being.
All in all, it was a wonderful and informative event for the community.
Dance exercise activities with Crystal Wall Fitness Group
Aniya Guyton and mother, April Neal
Hip-Hop performer Aniya Guyton