By Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

Vaughan Community Health Services hosted a free pop up health screening on Tuesday morning in front of Selma City Hall.

The event was open to anyone and provided free blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and Body Mass Index checks.

Karen Morris, a community health educator with Vaughan Community Health Services, said the point of the screenings is not to replace a regular doctor’s visit but to educate and give health information and options to the community.

“The pop-up health screening is something new that we thought would be good because we go into different places in the community,” Morris said.

Morris said people might be more receptive to stopping and getting a checkup while out and about rather than scheduling a doctor’s appointment.

Morris said Vaughan Community Health Services would be working to schedule more screenings across the city in the future.

There is at least one registered nurse at every one of the screenings to provide information people may need.

“They are wonderful to have on staff,” Morris said of the three registered nurses that assist with the health screenings.

According to Morris, the main issues they see in the community are high blood pressure in men and diabetes, which can come from genetics as well as food choices.  Morris said the hope is people take the results from the screenings and try to change their eating and exercise habits for a healthier lifestyle.

Later this month, Morris and Becky Rives, a registered nurse, will speak to the male city of Selma employees about prostate cancer and the effects that smoking can have on your health.