Health & Wellness News

As anyone with dental pain can attest, dental health is vitally important to overall physical well-being. We were able to reach out and serve more than 50 individuals at the free dental screening we hosted in November. Students from the AT Still University Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health provided oral screenings and fluoride varnish treatments to the children and adults. The dentistry students were also able to present an education piece on good dental hygiene practices to the After School Tutoring students earlier in the same week.

We will continue to highlight specific health needs this year. At our March 7, 2020, health and wellness screening, we will host the National Kidney Foundation. Representatives from the kidney organization will screen participants to assess their kidney function. In addition, individuals will be given a brief education on how to maintain good kidney function as well as why it is so important for their well-being.

Jane Delworth, National Kidney Foundation representative, noted, “Our KEEP Healthy kidney screening is a community based-initiative to educate about the kidneys, risk factors for kidney disease, and steps to take to keep kidneys healthy and reduce risk. 1 in 3 American adults, over 9,000 individuals in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, are at risk for developing kidney disease, and an additional 300,000 individuals have kidney disease but do not know it. It is our hope that through this screening we can find kidney disease at the earliest stage possible.”

We look forward to assisting refugees and immigrants to understand kidney function and determine their kidney health. The screening will begin at 9:30 a.m. and finish by 12:30 p.m. For interpreter and transportation needs, please call Laura at 314-249-9219, by March 1.

By Laura Brink CFNA Health & Wellness Coordinator