Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Nursing students help with health fair

09/13/2008 07:14 PM

By: Breanna Walden

BOLTON, N.C. – The Goshen Medical Center in Columbus County teamed up with nursing students from UNC Wilmington to hold a public senior health fair this weekend in Bolton, N.C.

They provided information on health issues like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, obesity and cancer, which according to UNCW clinical coordinator Carol Highsmith affect this community the most.

"We wanted to come out and do some health education for this community to give them the opportunity to change the outcomes that they have been getting in the past," Highlands said.

People there could have their blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked and receive information on prostate and breast exams and obesity prevention.

Organizers said those simple steps could prevent health problems from posing a huge hazard -- especially for those who don't know the problems exist, or how to deal with them.

"It affects all of us. All of us have medical needs. You never know which ones may come your way," resident Regina Best said. "It's good to be aware of them and to know how to prevent them."

But the fair is not only an educational opportunity for those in the community. Nursing students had the opportunity to learn something as well.

"It's educational for me because I get to teach what I have been learning in class instead of just memorizing it," nursing student Dennis Williams said. "I am actually teaching it to other people."

This was the first year the UNCW nursing students helped out with the health fair.