By Bryan Eneas

Healthy turnout at Muskoday’s annual health fair

Nov 23, 2016 | 4:00 PM

From diabetes and chronic conditions, to mental wellbeing and healthy eating, residents of the Muskoday First Nation are filtering through the band hall to learn about their health.

Health centre staff are hosting their annual fair in Muskoday today, Nov. 23. Thirty different booths have been set up to provide information on a living a healthy lifestyle, a bump from last year’s 20.

Ruby Bighetty, the community health nurse in charge of the health fair, has run the event for the last two years.

“We have a whole bunch of different vendors from a whole bunch of different backgrounds,” Bighetty said. “From SGI for car seat safety to an environmental health officer for mold in the home and how to prevent mold to the fire department talking about fire safety.”

One unique aspect is the fresh fruit and veggie market. Attendees at the health fair can obtain fresh produce through tickets they earn by asking questions and participating at each booth.

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“They have to ask questions; it has to be interactive and educational,” Bighetty said. “The coupons are worth 10 cents, where they cash them in at the food market.”

Bighetty said it’s an opportunity for people to try a new fruit or vegetable they might not have been exposed to before. Healthy recipes were paired along with the goods selected by residents.

Confidential point of care testing was available on site. According to Bighetty; in previous years this had not been available.

People were asked for their input once they had a chance to tour the event. Bighetty said she takes those recommendations seriously and brought a number of booths into the fair this year based on community input.

Bighetty said the fair is important for Muskoday because it gives an opportunity for people to ask questions about chronic conditions they may have, as well as obtain information about chronic diseases.

“It’s important because there’s so much health-related information out there,” Bighetty said. “Just having that information out there, and doing the prevention and the health promotion is important.”

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @BryanEneas