Minority Health Fair Helps Thousands

From heart disease, asthma, and even cancer, the rates for these diseases amongst minorities can be double and even triple the national average.

Saturday was the 13th annual Hamilton County Minority Health Fair at the East gate Town Center, bringing in over 125 professional health groups, to help deal with the dozens of health issues people can face.

From breast cancer screening, podiatry services and everything in between, thousands from the community visited the health fair to take advantage of the services.

"We got an opportunity to see what is available as far as health care is concerned both free and what you had to pay for," said Delores Baker from Chattanooga. "It’s very important because you can get your screenings done, blood pressure checked. I got my sugar checked. And children get a chance to get wellness things done. Lots of free stuff, entertainment. It’s a really good event."

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department had a drug take back booth where anyone could dispose of expired prescription drugs in special containers.

Disposing of old drugs in the toilet, trash or leaving around your home can present risks to those around you.

"Medications that have been flushed into the water system, you cannot get every single particle of drugs out so it basically begins to get into the system so you really don’t have a totally purified system," said Captain Charles Lowery with the Sheriff’s Department. "We don’t want it in the landfills and thrown away because of the same thing. It’s going to dissolve. It’s going to get in the ground. There’s no telling where it will be."

Old prescription drugs can also get into the wrong hands if left out.

"We want to keep it off the street," said Lowery. "We want to impact the community and let the kids know, no, you’re not gonna get this."