This weekend, the third African Community Health & Wellness Fair will be held. The fair is a two-day event that aims to increase medical literacy among African immigrants and refugees. “First of all, I think it’s about getting people to know the importance of taking care of themselves,” says Adama Sawadogo. Sawadogo is the executive director of African Immigrant Family Services. AIFS and 21 African organizations are hosting the event. Sawadogo said a 2022 survey revealed barriers faced by Africans in the capital region. “Survey results show that less than 20% of African immigrant and refugee adults get an annual health check,” Sawadogo said. This is the third year for the fair. Friday is the African Health Panel. It will feature community physicians and elders. June 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Community Engagement Center. Saturday, June 15, the African Community Health Fair will be held from 9 to noon at the Nebraska Autism Center, 9012 Q St. Tests will be given there. “We have blood pressure, diabetes, blood sugar, vision, dental tests,” Sawadogo said. Fatuma Mukombola of Congolese Refugee Heritage said the health fair is often the only opportunity participants have to get a medical checkup. “Dental is a big problem,” Mukombola said. “Most people don’t even know where to go to find a dentist. With a dental exam, they come, they get the exam, they get a referral that prompts them to follow up afterwards.” She said language can be a big barrier for families. “In my community, only French and Swahili are spoken. We have translators, but we have different dialects,” Mukombola said. “They don’t understand concepts like screening and early detection.” The health fair hopes to change that by empowering the Capital Region’s African community. “Physical health and mental health are very important,” Sawadogo said. Sunday, the African Community Cultural Exchange will be held at the Nebraska Autism Center, 9012 Q St., from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 15.
This weekend marks the third annual African Community Health & Wellness Fair.
The fair is a two-day event aimed at increasing health literacy among African migrants and refugees.
“First of all, I think it’s important to know the importance of taking care of yourself,” says Adama Sawadogo.
Sawadogo is executive director of the African Migrant Family Service. AIFS and 21 other African organizations are hosting the event. Sawadogo said the 2022 survey revealed barriers facing Africans in the capital region.
“Surveys show that less than 20 percent of African migrant and refugee adults receive annual health checks,” Sawadogo said.
This year marks the third year of this fair.
On Friday we have an African Health Panel, with doctors and elders from the area.
- June 14th
- 4pm to 6pm
- University of Nebraska at Omaha Community Engagement Center
Saturday is the African Community Health Fair
- June 15
- 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Nebraska Autism Center, 9012 Q St.
The screening will be held there.
“Blood pressure, diabetes, blood sugar, vision and dental screenings will also be done,” Sawadogo said.
Fatuma Mukombola, from the Congolese Refugee Heritage Association, said the health fairs were often the only opportunity participants had to get medical check-ups.
“Dentistry is a big issue,” says Mkombola. “Most people don’t even know where to go to find a dentist. With a dental check-up, you come in and get examined, and then you get a referral to continue.”
Language can be a big barrier for families, she said.
“In my community, only French and Swahili are spoken, and although we have translators, it’s a different dialect,” Mkombola says. “They don’t understand concepts like screening and early detection.”
The Wellness Fair hopes to change that by empowering the Capital Region’s Black community.
“Physical health and mental health are very important,” Sawadogo said.
Sunday is African Community Cultural Exchange Day
- June 15
- 6pm to 8pm
- Nebraska Autism Center, 9012 Q St.
