LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science announced today that it will be co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual "Building Better Communities Through Better Health" fair on Saturday, June 14, 2008, at the Kenneth Hahn Plaza, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The university, since its launch in 1966, has always been played a proactive role in the community but since the King-Harbor Medical Center was closed last summer, they increased efforts to fill this devastating loss to the underserved and uninsured residents of South Los Angeles, the most effected by this lack of quality health care.
The event is co-sponsored by H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Excel), Head Start and Omega Psi Phi, Inc. in collaboration with the Auxiliary to the Charles Drew Medical Society, Wilmington Community Clinic and Charles R. Drew Medical Society.
"All services available at the health fair are free and there is no excuse to put off important screenings," said Dr. Susan Kelly, President and CEO of Charles Drew University. "These community health fairs are crucial to early detection of life threatening diseases."
Rev. Melvin Ashley, Founder of H.O.P.E. is passionate in his pursuit to bring affordable medical services and information to South Los Angeles. "Our goal is to address the health needs of the entire family from the youngest to the oldest. We believe that creating healthy families is the first step to building a better community," he said. "This health fair will not only help identify health needs, but also provide information for families in this community to follow-up on medical care."
Also available are free screenings for STD/HIV/AIDS, blood pressure, along with information on dental care, exercise, and nutrition. Safety and violence prevention tips will also be available, with discussions about the impact of stress on individual health.
The health fair takes place in the Hahn Plaza in Willowbrook, South Los Angeles between 118th and 120th street. Everyone is invited to attend. "We encourage the community to take a proactive role with protecting their health and that of their families. This event is to help improve the quality of their lives," said EJ Omakwu, Charles Drew University's Special Events Coordinator.
"Get your health care facts, feel the freedom of knowing the truth about your health, and have fun with the family, oh, and one last little point, it's free!" said Lance Washington from local station KJLH Radio Free 102.3.
For more information about the Community Health Fair, call EJ Omakwu at (323) 563-563-4981 or visit the CDU website at www.cdrewu.edu.
About H.O.P.E.
Since 2001, Helping Other People Excel (H.O.P.E.), a non-profit agency, has provided daily assistance to individuals and families in low income South Los Angeles communities regardless of race, creed or sexual preference. H.O.P.E. works with a network of caring organizations and provides solutions to challenging situations through donations of free clothing, food and referrals to mental health, drug treatment and family preservation services. H.O.P.E. has set a goal not only to assist but to equip people to obtain the dream of becoming self sufficient.
About Charles Drew University
A private non-profit educational institution in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science has provided quality college, graduate and post-graduate education and training to thousands of qualified minority and other students for more than 35 years. As part of its mission, the University has also provided urgently needed healthcare services to chronically underserved residents of the poorest communities in Los Angeles County, serving the 1.6 million citizens in its 94-square-mile service area. If this service area were a municipality, it would be the fifth largest city in the U.S.
The University is widely regarded as an innovative medical education university pioneering in teaching doctors and healthcare professionals, and in conducting quality research, to deal with the special needs of the poor, chronically ill populations in the inner city. By expanding relationships with local medical school, research institutions and community-based organizations, the University is focused on eliminating health care disparities by providing access to and delivery of vital health care services to underserved populations. The University has been remarkably successful in achieving its primary goal of producing physicians and other healthcare professionals who return to the community to serve people who are uninsured or underinsured. It has graduated over 500 medical doctors, 2,500 physician specialists, 2,000 physician assistants and hundreds of other health professionals.
Charles Drew University's unique environment of providing medical education has been lauded as a national model. Research shows both that its students become more committed to the mission as they progress through their medical education and that 10 years after graduation, 70% of Charles Drew University trained physicians are still working with underserved populations.