Brooke Kelly
Staff Writer
Inspite of low attendance, this year’s Annual Health and Wellness Fair had a plethora of useful information and resources to offer.
On April 8, the Walter Payton Center, the JSU Student Health Center and Latasha Norman Center, combined resources and contacts to host their first combined health and wellness fair under the Office of Student Life.
Students, faculty and staff who came were able to receive services such as hearing tests, stress tests, and were able to find out information and services related to birth control, healthy eating, HIV support groups, depression, sexual assault, alcohol and drug dependency, home and vehicle energy efficiency and more.
Aaron Richardson, a graduate special education major from Laurel, Miss. who works in the Walter Payton, thinks students could learn a lot about being healthy by attending health fairs.
“People need to understand that being healthy and fit isn’t just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing. The mental should be just as nourished as the physical,” said Richardson.
Natresica Garland, a senior psychology major from Humble, Texas, worked at the Applied Psychological Services Clinic booth. The APSC, in addition to the Latasha Norman Center, offers free confidential counseling services to staff and students. The APSC also offers psychological assessment, treatment, and other services to children, adults, and the elderly.
Garland suggests students who feel overwhelmed by problems should know that there are “two wonderful, nonjudgmental, completely confidential places you can go.”
“No one will ever know you went,” said Garland.
Nyoki Morton, Assistant Director of Marketing and Special Events at the Payton Center, was part of the team in charge of organizing this year’s Health and Wellness Fair.
“Our overall goal at the WPC is to promote healthy living for faculty, staff, and students. The goal of the fair is to make sure they are fully informed on how to live healthy,” said Morton.
The JSU Health Center staff offered blood pressure screenings, A1C tests for pre-diabetes, Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight readings. According to the nurses from the Health Center, early testing for diabetes is something frequently done in the Health Center.
Stephanie Payne, a doctor’s assistant for Dr. D.A. Handy, an optometrist in Jackson, Miss., believes that getting your eyes checked is another way to find out if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
“Some people can have diabetes and not even know it,” Payne said.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service was one of the first booths students, faculty and staff could visit upon entering the health fair. They offered healthy eating tips based on the national government approved food pyramid.
Eugenia Smith works for the Extension Service and thinks it is vitally important for African-Americans to take the necessary health precautions to prevent diseases that commonly affect them.
She thinks people should check out www.mypyramid.gov for health tips. The site can offer personalized tips based on an individual’s agenda, physical activity, and more.
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