The Hindu Temple of Canton, on Cherry Hill east of Canton Center, is again hosting a free health fair.
The Hindu Temple of Canton, moving to save lives by detecting health threats and early disease, has announced a free two-day health fair to help area residents who might forgo or delay medical care, often because they can’t afford it.
Jatin Desai, a health fair organizer, said the Hindu Temple hopes to reach beyond its site on Cherry Hill Road east of Canton Center to draw a diverse group of people to the event, scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, April 6 and April 27.
“Hinduism is a way of living and we believe the more we help our community, the more healthy our society will be down the road,” Desai said. “This is open to all walks of life, regardless of faith.”
The Hindu Temple has paired with Oakwood Hospital-Wayne and the Michigan Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, or MAPI, for the 12th annual event.
“They have the same mission as us,” Desai said. “They want to make sure that the community can be a beneficiary of early detection of any health issues.”
As many as 60-70 doctors are expected to become involved in the health fair, open to residents in Canton and beyond.
Don Hazaert, director of Michigan Consumers for Healthcare, a coalition of health-related organizations, lauded the Hindu Temple’s efforts.
“It’s a terrific program that communities are going to need for some time to come,” Hazaert said, despite the phasing in of efforts such as the Affordable Care Act. “While there’s plenty of good news on the health care front, programs like this are important and should be embraced by their communities.”
For the April 6 event, the Hindu Temple has confirmed it will accept only the first 350 people who sign up by March 31 by stopping at the temple or going to www.thehindutemple.org or www.mapiusa.org, Desai said.
For that three-hour session, patients are asked to fast after midnight because medical personnel plan to draw blood to screen for a complete blood count, cholesterol, prostate health and blood sugar levels that, if elevated, can lead to diabetes. Minimum age for the blood test is 18.
For the April 27 health fair, patients who had their blood drawn during the first session are asked to return to obtain their results and get medical advice from doctors.
“We want to help them learn how they can change their lifestyle to make it better for them,” Desai said.
No prior registration is necessary for the April 27 session. Desai said anyone is welcome to attend and get their blood pressure and hearing tested.
Moreover, visitors will be able to speak with primary care physicians and specialists in cardiology, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, rheumatology, dentistry, gastroenterology, podiatry, endocrinology, nutrition, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, physical therapy and internal medicine.
Visitors are asked to bring their current prescriptions and any medical records they might have. Information booths also are planned with pharmacists and recommendations for nutrition and lifestyle improvements.
When the Hindu Temple of Canton organized its first community health fair more than a decade ago, Desai said it had humble beginnings with around 100 visitors – a number that had quadrupled by last year.
Desai commended Oakwood Hospital-Wayne for being a consistent partner, saying is has been “a major contributor in terms of resources for this health fair.