Hackensack Meridian Health to Host Caribbean/Latino Block Party and Health Fair

The July 13 event will feature fun - and free health services

Hackensack Meridian Health is hosting a community block party and health fair for Caribbean and Latino families across New Jersey on July 13. This free event will feature fun, education - and wellness.

The Community Block Party/Health Fair is focused on the Caribbean and Latino population, as an effort to address cancer disparities and provide needed health services and education.

“This is a much-needed event, which will help our many neighbors who might not otherwise get all the services they need,” said Lisa Carter-Bawa, Ph.D., MPH, APRN, ANP-C, FAAN, director of the Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI). “Through these resources, we are hoping to set a precedent which will improve and lengthen lives heading into the future.” Carter-Bawa is also director of Cancer Community Outreach and Engagement, John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack Meridian Health, a research partner with Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she is a co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program.

The goal of the all-day event is to decrease cancer risk, and increase early detection, while making connections between the health care and scientific community with the wider Latino-Caribbean community.

Health services and tests which will be provided include: blood pressure monitoring; diabetes screening (A1C); cholesterol screening; HIV screening; cancer screenings for breast, prostate, and self-sampling kits for cervical HPV screening ; hearing, vision and dental screenings; education on genetic screening; legal services, and education and career opportunity representatives; and other vital resources.

Family fun will include a DJ, a dance performance, face painting, game stations, balloons, food trucks, salsa and bachata dance class, and Caribbean and Latino vendors. HMH is partnering with Quest Diagnostics, BD (Becton Dickinson), as Premier Sponsors of this event; Eisai USA as Featured Sponsor; and Ralph Lauren as Event Sponsor. Screen NJ is a featured program partner providing free, on site cancer screenings and no-cost transportation support.

The presenting partners include the Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center; the CDI; Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center; the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine; and Hackensack University Medical Center.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the campus of the CDI and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, 123 Metro Boulevard, in Nutley.