Healthy Communities: City of Lexington to hold a Health Equity Conference in August
The City of Lexington wants everyone to be as healthy as they can possibly be.
In an effort to address issues and access to the health care system, the city will be holding a Health Equity Conference on Aug. 12 and 13 at Lexington Senior High School.
The purpose of the event is to bring awareness to health issues in the community and to close gaps to health care access for minorities and other disadvantaged groups.
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Health equity is when everyone has the opportunity to attain their full health potential, and no one is prevented from obtaining health care due to their social or economic position.
“One of the key components of the conference is a conversation about race, social and economic disparity and its impact on health care; to build a bridge to fill gaps in the area of health care. Health is wealth and we want to provide as many resources as we can to individuals to help them navigate the health care system,” said Dr. Patricia Smyre, City of Lexington DEI manager.
This two-day conference will provide educational opportunities for health care professionals and individuals on different aspects of health equity.
It will kick off with the keynote speaker Angela Bryant, North Carolina Health and Human Service Department Assistant Secretary of Equity and Inclusion.
There will also be two-tracks available targeted towards health care providers and others focusing on the individual. Topics include understanding systematic historical barriers in the healthcare system; how to engage people in making health care decisions and the importance of health equity.
Sessions will also include the value of a person’s mental, emotional and physical well-being; reconciling trauma from past experiences and focusing on positive growth in access to health care.
“No one is exempt from facing a health crisis that can deplete your life's savings, disrupt your quality of life, and devastate your life as you know it. Working together to make this conference a success is the first step in closing equity gaps within our community,” said Smyre.
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The second day of the conference will be a community health equity fair with vendors, food trucks, games, health screenings and other activities.
Mammograms, sports and school physicals will also be available by appointment. Registration is required by July 21 and is available on the City of Lexington website. For more information, contact Kim Hughes at 336-476-2500.
The two-day health equity conference is free of charge, but pre-registration is requested. For more information go to www.lexingtonnc.gov.
General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.
This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: City of Lexington to hold a Health Equity Conference in August
