The Hindu Temple of Canton is returning with its 15th annual health fair. This photo is from a previous fair.(Photo: Hindu Temple)
In an effort to save lives and improve health, the Hindu Temple of Canton is hosting a health fair aimed at helping area residents who lack access to care.
It marks the 15th year the Hindu Temple, 44955 Cherry Hill Road, has brought in cardiologists, urologists, internists, ophthalmologists, dentists, surgeons, nutritionists and other health care professionals to help those in need. The latest health fair occurs in two rounds April 23 and 30.
“We do this to serve the community and people in need,” said Jatin Desai, who chairs the health fair committee and is vice president of the Hindu Temple board of directors. “It has been a tremendous success. We have people approach us from all walks of life.”
The temple hosts the event with Beaumont Hospital-Wayne and the Michigan Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage, or MAPI.
Desai said the health fair has helped to detect serious illnesses such as leukemia and also has flagged conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes that, when treated, can help to prevent serious health issues.
Dhaval Vaishnav, president of the temple’s board of directors, said 20-25 doctors will be involved in the health fair.
“This is for people who cannot afford to go see a doctor and also the people who basically do not have any other way to get an understanding of where they stand with their health,” Vaishnav said.
He said the effort reflects Hindu teachings to help others in the community.
“We have been taught and brought up to help others and that is part of our life and part of our culture,” Vaishnav said.
The health fair occurs in two rounds.
For the first round, a limit of 300 people has been set. It occurs 9-11 a.m. Sunday, April 23, at the temple and involves a blood screening for everything from diabetes to prostate cancer to cholesterol. Registration is required in person by April 3 at the Hindu Temple. A $10 cash deposit is required, but the health fair has no other costs.
Participants must be 18 or older and they should fast after midnight before attending the fair.
The second round occurs 9-11:30 a.m. Sunday, April 30. People who had their blood drawn one week earlier will get their results, which health fair officials say could potentially save a life with early detection of serious diseases.
However, the second round also is open to anyone — not just the original 300 — who wants to get their blood pressure checked and have health-related discussions with a wide array of health care professionals.
Registration is not necessary for this round and visitors can talk to health care professionals ranging from cardiologists to orthopedic surgeons. Informational booths also will be set up with professionals in pharmacy, nutrition and lifestyle enhancement.
For those who may need follow-up care and can’t afford it, health fair leaders say doctors and social workers will try to help patients find the services they need.
Vaishnav said the health fair, in its 15th year, has proved successful year after year.
“We plan to keep this going as long as we can,” he said.
For more on the Hindu Temple of Canton. go to http://www.thehindutemple.org.
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Twitter: @CantonObserver
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