Whitehaven Community Health Fair provides students with free exams, school ... - Memphis Commercial Appeal

Photo by Mike Maple

July 13, 2013 — The annual Whitehaven Community Health Fair was Saturday at Hillcrest High School. The fair included immunizations for school age children, dental checkups and seminars on health and nutrition. Navia Blackwell, 10, a 5th grader at Robert R, Church Elementary learns CPR from Barbara Becton Saturday. Becton said even with this brief tutorial, they may be able to save a life. (The Commercial Appeal/Mike Maple)

Photo by Mike Maple

July 13, 2013 — The annual Whitehaven Community Health Fair was Saturday at Hillcrest High School. The fair included immunizations for school age children, dental checkups and seminars on health and nutrition. Twins from left, Donterrion and Donterrio Mosley, 5, await their immunizations as Mickey Mouse tries to coax them not the dental cleaning area Saturday. (The Commercial Appeal/Mike Maple)

Latausha Young saved gas, money and time Saturday by taking her two children to the Whitehaven Community Health Fair.

“I would’ve had to pay if I had taken them to the clinic or the doctor,” said the 39-year-old who pays a 20 percent co-pay for each regular doctor’s visit. “It’s a big relief because you have the shots, the health screenings and the dentist. That would’ve been six separate appointments.”

Young and about 700 others visited the fair at Hillcrest High to get children prepared for the first day of school by getting all the necessary health tests, dental check ups and immunizations.

The Shelby County Health Department also opened the doors of seven clinics around Memphis Saturday to help parents avoid congested lines. The next Saturday clinics are scheduled for July 27, Aug. 10 and 24.

Harold Collins, Memphis City Council member and host of the 13th annual event, said this year organizers for the first time provided a bouncy castle for children to play in, but otherwise he tries to keep it simple.

“People are in so much need it’s unbelievable,” he said. “These are not just people from Whitehaven. There are people here from South Memphis and all around.”

The Southern College of Optometry didn’t perform slated eye exams for children because students are out for the summer, Collins said. He and the school are planning a later event to make up for the oversight.

“We know that this is a big school year not only for the schools, but for the children,” he said. “They have to be ready on the first day to compete academically. We want to take away any hindrance that would keep kids out of school the first day.”

Hazel Moore, health fair organizer, said some children miss weeks of school because parents don’t get them tested and vaccinated.

“That’s unacceptable,” Moore said. “They need to be educated, so we also try to educate the parents.”

While people sang along to old Michael Jackson hits that floated through the school, Devin Pettis, 11, was secluded in a quiet room where he had to raise his hand each time he heard a beep. Pettis passed the test, but he missed one high-pitched beep because, the proctor said, he listens to head phones that are too loud. He promised the examiner he would turn down the music.

Carldora Pettis, Devin’s mother, said she brought her two children to the fair to make sure they’re healthy so they can learn.

“I want him to get to know his teachers, where everything is and focus on his grades from day one. That’s important,” she said about the sixth-grader who will go to Havenview Middle for the first time this fall. “This is helping a lot financially and with time. Today was a good day for this.”