After a successful event during Heart Health Month in January, members of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church’s health ministry felt it was necessary to educate the men in their congregation about their health. Organizers Jonathan Peterson, a deacon and church usher with a health background, and Sabrina Dickey, a professor at Florida State University’s College of Nursing, quickly got to work planning the Men’s Health Fair to coincide with Men’s Mental Health Month in June. The event will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at 615 Tuskegee Street.
Dickey, who has been a member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist for over 15 years, highlighted the importance of creating a safe space for men to discuss mental health and general health issues. Peterson’s idea was supported by Dickey, and together they organized the weekend event, with Peterson serving as the primary organizer.
Preparations for the Men’s Health Fair began in April, with the health ministry conducting a survey to determine the topics that men in the congregation were interested in. The survey results indicated that kidney disease and prostate cancer were areas of concern, so these topics, along with others, will be addressed at the free health fair.
The event will feature speakers such as Dr. Lenny Marshall, Director of Health Equity and Access for Big Bend Hospice, MD Nephrologist Daryl O. Crenshaw, and mental health professional Andrew Shaw. Free medical screenings will be provided by Neighborhood Medical Center’s Mobile Unit, and attendees can also enjoy light refreshments and lunch during the event.
For more information about the Men’s Health Fair, visit https://www.tmbconline.com. For inquiries, please contact Democrat Writer Mycah Brown at MJBrown@gannett.com.