Harlem Health Fair Promotes Community, Provides COVID Vaccines and Free Health Screenings

An overcast day couldn’t dampen the spirit as the Emma L. Bowen Community Service Center hosted its annual Community Health Fair in Harlem.

The event took place on Friday, September 17th, 2021, outside on its Plaza, located on the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 145th Street, in Harlem.

The focus of this annual event is to bring the community together for a little fun, information gathering and, most importantly, provide free health screenings.

Throughout the event, attendees were able to receive a variety of screenings from blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and glucose to dental. More in-depth screenings for Hepatitis C and HIV Testing were also available.

An important addition to the Health Fair this year was COVID-19 vaccinations, which the Bowen Center has been vocal in promoting to the community. COVID-19 testing was also available.

Deputy Public Advocate for Justice, Health & Safety, Edgardo Acevedo, attended the event on behalf of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and was interviewed by WBLS personality “Doctor” Bob Lee, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

All in-person attendees were required to wear masks and adhere to social distancing. Those who attended the virtual portions of the event participated in two very informative seminars. The first presentation detailed “Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” and the second focused on Hepatitis “C.”

Joining the Bowen Center in sponsoring the Community Health Fair was Mutual of America, AbbVie, Desire & Company CPAs, Heritage Health & Housing, Heart to Heart, John Brown, Esq. and Ryan Health. The New York City Fire Department, New York City Police Department along with numerous community organizations handed out information on health and public safety and several lucky attendees won special raffle prizes.

The Bowen Center provides services to the Harlem community and beyond through its therapeutic preschool for children with behavioral and developmental issues; outpatient mental health services for children and adolescents; programs for adults & seniors dealing with mental health and addiction recovery challenges; a care management team that provides advocacy and services to home-bound individuals; a 20-bed residential addiction recovery facility, and a food pantry program that serves over 22,000 packages of food annually.

The Emma L. Bowen Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organization established in 1986 and licensed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York State Office of Mental Health, NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and New York State Department of Education.

Photo credit: 1) (l to r) Edgardo Acevedo and Patricia C. Jordan. 2-3) Attendees at fair. 4) Nereida Coronel.