Free Women’s Health Fair

Even during a pandemic, it is important to keep up with medical screenings and regular exams. Because of this, the Shoals Community Clinic will present the Catherine Barnes Women’s Health Fair on April 8th and April 15th. Breast and cervical cancer continue to be major causes of women’s illness and death. There are no cures for these diseases, but early detection is the best recourse in surviving and leading a thriving life.

The fair will offer free cervical and breast exams, free mammograms and pap smears, with some restrictions, for women age 40-64 who do not have health insurance or a primary health care provider, and for women 65 and over who do not have Medicare Part A. This is a part of the clinic’s Well Woman Project, and is supported by the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP). This program is part of a nation-wide initiative launched by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which has offered cancer screenings to over 5 million women. This program has benefited thousands of women in the state who would not have had access to this preventative care otherwise.

The Catherine Barnes Women’s Health Fair is named after one the clinic’s founding officers and first directors, Catherine Semmes Barnes, who was an inspiration to women fighting this disease. Experts estimate that about one out of every eight women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during her life. Early detection is a key factor in treating and surviving a possible cancer diagnosis, so it is very important that everyone consult with their health care provider to schedule regular exams. The program is supported by partnerships with the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions at UNA, the Tri-State Center for Breast Health, Florence Pathology Service, Lauderdale County Radiology, and the ABCCED Program.

For more information, or to set up an appointment, call the Shoals Community Clinic at (256) 760-4713.