Africatown Health Screening Event: Africatown is facing challenges in accessing medical care, prompting local leaders to advocate for a medical center in the community. The lack of medical care and limited transportation options for the elderly have raised concerns about the well-being of residents. In response, a collaborative effort by the Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation, Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church, Franklin Primary Health Center, and the Bay Area Women Coalition organized a free health screening event at the Robert Hope Community Center.
Despite the ongoing presence of COVID-19 and the impact on seniors, some may perceive the pandemic as a thing of the past. Tamekia Cunningham-Abrams, a Family Nurse Practitioner at Franklin Primary Health Center, emphasized that positive cases are still being reported.
The event aimed to address both medical and financial needs of the Africatown community. Recognizing the vulnerability of seniors to COVID-19 and the flu, Pastor Chris Williams highlighted the importance of bringing medical services directly to the community.
In addition to health screenings, the organizers distributed boxes of food to provide support to the community facing economic challenges. The event shed light on environmental injustices in Africatown, with concerns about the impact of surrounding heavy industry on residents’ health, including mysterious illnesses like cancer.
John Pugh, a Research Coordinator at Franklin Primary Health, highlighted the prevalence of cancer in the South Coast and the importance of conducting a Southern Environmental Health Study. The study, focusing on individuals aged 40-70, aims to understand and address the factors contributing to high cancer rates in the region.
Pastor Williams emphasized the urgent need for a medical facility in Africatown to ensure residents have access to essential healthcare services and address the health challenges faced by the community.
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