Health department hosts health fair

The Kane County Health Department is encouraging participation in the fifth annual African-American Health Fair from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 27 at West Aurora High School, 1201 W. New York St., in Aurora. The fair is free and open to the public.

Keynote speaker for the event is Laetitia Benberry, a registered nurse who teaches prepared childbirth and prenatal classes at Provena Mercy Medical Center. She will be speaking on patient empowerment. Others speakers will include Dr. Paul Crawford, board member of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and the Gift of Hope formerly the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois, past chairman of the Minority Intervention Kidney Education program, MIKE, and member of the Advocate Trinity Hospital medical staff. He will speak on men's health.

Dr. Pam Smith, a board certified obstetrician/gynecologist who is a hospitalist at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago, will be speaking on women's health. The emcee for the event will be Rev. Dwayne Thomas, associate minister of The Love of God Missionary Baptist Church, Aurora.

Hot breakfast will be served. A special children's health fair will be hosted by Girl Scout Troop 761.

The fair will feature exhibits and a vendor fair from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., raffle prizes and giveaways. Free health screenings will be offered from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Some of the health screenings require 8-hour fast. Drinking plenty of water before screening is highly encouraged.

For Information and to RSVP contact Toya Johnson at (630) 518-8379 or Toya.Johnson@provena.org.