February 27, 2025
With spring on the horizon, community health fairs will become a common sight in many Philadelphia neighborhoods. At these free public events, local organizations and health care providers set up booths to offer educational information, health screenings, and preventative health care services.
Community health fairs grew out of an effort to improve access to these important services and information in historically underserved communities.
“The value of the community health fair is sometimes underestimated,” says Annette B. Gadegbeku, MD, FAAFP, senior associate dean of the Office of Community Health and Inclusive Excellence at Drexel University College of Medicine. “But we’re meeting people where they are. And as a result, we’re saving lives.”
Here’s a quick primer to give you an idea of what to expect from attending a community health fair.
Who stages a community health fair?
Generally, these fairs are hosted by community-based organizations or faith-based congregations because they’re trusted entities within their neighborhoods, or they’re working on becoming one, Dr. Gadegbeku says.
“They really have the community’s best interests at heart,” she says.
Like Drexel Medicine’s clinics, the various sponsors and partners of a health fair are also based in, or near, the community where it’s being held, and they share a common interest in promoting overall wellness within the area.
How can I get the most out of my experience?
“Just show up,” Dr. Gadegbeku suggests. “And try to be open to all they have to offer.”
Because community health fairs are free, there’s no risk involved in attending. Pamphlets and even free gifts will be offered. Accept it all and see what you can learn, Dr. Gadegbeku says.
“No one’s there to push anything on you,” she says. “It’s the opposite of that. We want to help you achieve better health, or maybe your best health. That can take lots of forms, including sharing helpful tips or connecting you to a health care provider or other health resources.”
What happens if a screening shows an unusual result?
Different kinds of one-time screenings are a fixture of community health fairs. Blood glucose and blood pressure screenings are the most common.
Should you have a screening done and it yields an abnormal result, you’ll be informed of the potential effects of the result and encouraged to see your doctor.
“If someone doesn’t have a health care provider, we’ll offer information on how they can access one or a health care center,” Dr. Gadegbeku says. “We always have a list of offices and centers, usually within the same community, that will see people who are under- or uninsured.”
Most importantly, she says, remember that knowledge is power. Now that you know something isn’t quite right, you can do something about it. And generally, the sooner an issue is detected, the more treatment options there are.