-
Times graphic
Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
It’s never the wrong time to check in on your health. After learning Swain County’s population has lower health outcomes and lower life expectancies than the state, Indivisible Swain decided to set a focus on health.
The organization has planned two events this month: A health forum to take place from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Swain County Courthouse (101 Mitchell Street) and a Health Fair to be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at the Bryson City United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The health fair is in partnership with Western Carolina University Students.
Joe Buranosky with Indivisible said of the forum, “The point is to get people talking to one another and working on community problems together. There are issues we all face in common, and healthcare was one of those issues.”
The panel discussion will include local panelists who can weigh in on some of the health challenges the community faces. Panelists will include: Kevin Seagle, county commission chairman; Casey Cooper, Cherokee Indian Hospital CEO; Stephanie Lagan, clinical social worker; Parker Chatham, executive director of Restoration House; and Alison Cochran, Swain County Health and Human Services direct.
“It’s good for all of us to look at our health and see where we’re at,” Buranosky said. “I think it’s incumbent upon all of us.”
WCU nursing student Emily Bishop shared how the health fare will be set up, with five stations for measuring health and sharing health information. People will get to learn about their blood pressure, blood glucose, vision, nutrition and mental health resources.
“For us, it’s a service-learning project,” she explains of the student participation. “Whenever people come to the health fare, there will be a pre-survey about their knowledge about each topic, and whenever they are done there will be a post-survey and see how much they have learned from us.”
She’s seen it before that people will learn about possible concerns during such health fares.
One of the benefits of the fair, she said, is “early detection for chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes. People might not know they have them.”
The event will also include a raffle for attendees and there will be two gift baskets and goodie bags available to participants.