At EquiHealth Global, we understand that health is shaped by a variety of factors—social, economic, behavioral, and environmental. These social determinants of health play a vital role in determining health outcomes. Unfortunately, many people in underserved communities lack access to essential services, which significantly impacts their health and quality of life, as well as that of future generations.
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for underserved communities by providing access to healthcare. The medical screening event is designed to promote early disease detection and empower individuals through a community-driven referral system. By partnering with faith-based organizations, community health agencies, and other social services, we organize field events to ensure people in underserved areas receive the crucial care they need.
Upcoming Event
We’re excited to announce our upcoming partnership with Piedmont HealthCare, Fairview Baptist Church, Yokefellow Ministries, Family Dental Health, the Department of Social Services—Medicaid and Food/Nutrition, Iredell Coast, and South Yadkin Baptist Association and many others for the ServeNC Medical Fair Event. This event will take place on August 10, 2024, from 10 am to 2 pm at Yokefellow Parking Lot, 1380 Shelton Ave, Statesville, NC.
This initiative, developed alongside Fairview Baptist Church as part of the ServeNC program, is expected to draw close to 300 people from the underserved regions of Statesville, North Carolina. ServeNC, an initiative by Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, provides an opportunity for every NC Baptist Church to serve their community in Jesus’ name through various projects. We are thrilled that several provider systems have joined this initiative. In particular, we celebrate Piedmont HealthCare as the primary care sponsor at the Medical Fair. Their participation will allow attendees to receive crucial care that promotes early disease detection and appropriate referrals through the health system. We also celebrate Family Dental Health, which will provide dental information during the fair, among other participating agencies.
The EquiHealth Global service delivery model focuses on robust planning and coordination to ensure participants fully benefit from the resources available at the medical fair. Our goal is to bring together as many community agencies as possible in one event, maximizing the impact on participants. This model has been successfully implemented in several communities across the state and the world, and we’re excited to bring it to central North Carolina.
The Need for Our Work
According to the Healthy NC 2030 initiative, there are 21 social determinants of health categorized into Social and Economic Factors, Physical Environment, Health Behaviors, Clinical Care, and Health Outcomes. In Iredell County, about 26.7% of the population lived in poverty in 2020, and 9.48% of those under 65 were uninsured. The primary care provider-to-patient ratio was 1:313, and the suicide rate was 17.6 per 100,000 people between 2017 and 2019. These statistics highlight the urgent need for continuous social services reaching underserved communities.
Our approach brings together different stakeholders to share information and services through a single event, raising awareness of community activities and providing direct care. We aim to ensure everyone who attends feels loved, receives hope, and feels cared for.
How You Can Help
We are excited to have over 60 volunteers joining us, primarily from Fairview Baptist Church. It is Community Partners such as this that play multiple roles such as recruiting volunteers and maintaining a continuous presence in the community to identify and address specific needs.
We are in need of the following food items for the day, which will be distributed through the Health and Hope Kits:
- Dried Fruits: Raisins, Apricots, Cranberries, Figs
- Whole Grain Crackers: Multigrain Crackers, Rye Crisps, Brown Rice Crisps
- Canned Items: Tuna or Salmon (water-packed), Canned Beans (low sodium), Canned Fruit (natural juices), Canned Meats (pop-top)
- Snack Bars: Granola Bars (low sugar), Protein Bars, Fruit and Nut Bars
- Cereals Boxed: Oatmeal Packets, Whole Grain Cereal, Rice, Beans (lentils)
- Toiletries: Soap
- FREE YARD SALE: Clean clothes and shoes (like new condition) and small toys or household items.
To contribute to this program or any of our global initiatives, please visit our website for more details.
Thank you for supporting EquiHealth Global in making a difference in the lives of those in underserved communities. Together, we can provide hope and healthcare to those who need it most.