24th Annual KwanzaaFest HealthFest December 13 & 14

dptstaff | December 11, 2014 | LEAD STORY, LOCAL, NEWS | No Comments

KwanzaaFest HealthFest addresses the needs of both the underinsured and uninsured through offering free humanitarian health services. KwanzaaFest, Inc. strategically plans the annual KwanzaaFest event to be held in a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identified Medically Underserved Area and Health Care Professional Shortage Area. Through creative partnerships, KwanzaaFest HealthFest provides effective and efficient linkages to critical health services and sustainable health care.

The demonstrated need for this event is evidenced by the growth of HealthFest during the past five years, from offering 3,000 health screenings in 2005 to more than 35,000 health screenings in 2009! HealthFest started tracking the equivalent cost of care if participants were to access services through paid health sources. In 2012 HealthFest provided more than $723,800 in care offering a return of over $20 in free services for every dollar of donated and/or sponsor funding to support KwanzaaFest HealthFest. The Venue has Value couldn’t be more true!

Inspired by the outcomes resulting from KwanzaaFest’s HealthFest, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price created the District 3 Public Health Advisory Council in January 2006. Commissioner Price seated the council with key stakeholders from the greater Dallas health community, including administers of local hospitals; medical school staff; nursing directors of school systems; federal and local public health officials and representatives from national health organizations as well as local community-based programs. He charged membership to focus on innovative solutions to health-related issues and disparities that affect constituents beyond the walls of HealthFest.

Some of the vendors and services available at KwanzaaFest HealthFest: