In honor of Men’s Health Month, the Marshall University College of Health Professions and the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) will sponsor a Men’s Health Fair 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, on the Memorial Student Center plaza on Marshall’s Huntington campus.
Sharon Covert, director of the PEIA Pathways to Wellness program, said free screenings will be provided for all Marshall employees and students and members of the Huntington community, with special emphasis on men’s health.
“We see a lot of advertisements for women’s health issues like ‘wearing red’ or ‘going pink,’ but we need to generate more awareness about the issues concerning men’s health,” Covert said. “I think it’s important for men of all ages to develop a relationship with a primary care physician and understand – just like women – that there are signs and symptoms for which they should be on the lookout.”
Covert said fitness demonstrations will also be provided by PEIA employees including yoga and aerobic exercises. The Marshall University Recreation Center will hold fitness challenges on their portable exercise equipment with prizes given to participants. More than 15 health organizations and groups have committed to participating in the Men’s Health Fair including St. Mary’s School of Medical Imaging, Marshall Cardiology and Family Medicine, The Diabetes Center, the Marshall Department of Dietetics and many more.
Dr. Michael W. Prewitt, dean of the college, said this is a great opportunity for the Marshall community to come together and promote healthy living for both men and women.
“We will provide free blood pressure, blood sugar and lung screenings, flexibility tests and many other services,” Prewitt said. “This is a chance for Marshall faculty, staff and students to learn more about preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease for both men and women.”
For more information on Men’s Health Month, visit www.menshealthmonth.org. For more information on PEIA, visit www.peia.wv.gov. For further information on the programs and services offered within the College of Health Professions, visit www.marshall.edu/cohp online.
