Fairmont State Nurses Bring Health Care to the Streets

Fairmont State nursing students recently conducted a vital outreach event on Locust Avenue in Fairmont, bringing essential health services directly to the community. This initiative, held on July 8, focused on educating individuals about basic hygiene practices like oral care and hand washing to help reduce health disparities.

The event, funded by the Milan Puskar Foundation, was a collaboration between Fairmont State's nursing program and MVA Health Center. It offered free blood pressure and diabetic foot screenings, addressing critical needs for the underserved and homeless populations. According to Lisa Eades, assistant professor of nursing, the outreach fulfilled basic needs and provided backpacks with essential items.

LaMeekia Horton, a nurse practitioner at MVA Health Center, emphasized the need for such programs, noting a general lack of health knowledge and awareness of available services among the population served. Danielle Fry, a behavioral health referral specialist, highlighted poverty's significant impact on health, with many attendees coming from local shelters.

The outreach also proved invaluable for Fairmont State students, offering them hands-on experience and deeper empathy for patients. Psychology student Brookelyn Feathers found interacting with potential future patients incredibly beneficial for her educational journey and career aspirations.