JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Uninsured or underinsured African American men often neglect their health because they can’t afford treatment.
Black Men’s Wellness Day is an opportunity to receive medical exams and more.
“It’s important to know what’s going on inside our bodies,” says Ryan Foster.
For eight years, Foster didn’t have health insurance and relied on free health checks and clinics. The 38-year-old bartender doesn’t have insurance through his employer and, like many black men, has put off medical care.
“It can be a little expensive,” Foster said. “If you’re already living check-to-check and have to give up more checks to get insurance, you could be in the red.”
Both the House and Senate have passed Medicaid expansion plans, but it’s unclear how working Mississippians like Foster will be affected.
“We should be able to take care of ourselves and we are not saying that the government should take care of us, but it should be available and quality care. “Hmm,” Foster added.
The Jackson native recently got health insurance and plans to participate in Black Men’s Wellness Day on Saturday.
The 5K walk/run also includes free health screenings for everything from diabetes and blood pressure to prostate cancer and HIV.
“It’s really important that we try to get African American men to the doctor,” said Dr. Victor Sutton of Jackson Heart Research.
Preventive health and health equity experts host Black Men’s Wellness Day to encourage African American men to take responsibility for their health and get tested.
“African-American men typically only go to the doctor when they have a problem or have a specific problem,” Sutton says. “This affects the whole family. It’s impossible for someone to get sick and have medical bills, and we’re talking about things that are really preventable.”
The event begins at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 6, at the Russell C. Davis Planetarium.
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