HANOVER COUNTY, Virginia – The Hanover NAACP held its first-ever health fair Saturday morning at Poole Greene Park in Mechanicsville.
The group works to build trust between the healthcare community and people of color, as national statistics show that communities of color often have higher death rates and lower life expectancies.
Pastor Adreania Tolliver said she organized the event because she knows some in her community do not trust doctors when they need tests or treatment.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people of color have higher death rates from COVID-19, heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, flu and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide.
Authorities also found that life expectancy for people of color is five and a half years lower.
“We’ve really seen that there’s a lack of awareness in certain communities about what we can do to protect ourselves,” Tolliver said. “It’s very important to me that we make sure our friends get the information they need to stay healthy.”
Hanover NAACP organizers held this health fair because they believe the work must happen between pandemics.
That’s why they invited dozens of healthcare organizations, nonprofits and businesses to participate in their event.
“Maybe they don’t trust the doctor, but maybe they trust a loved one,” Tolliver said. “So our hope is that we can advocate for ourselves and our loved ones and bring that trust back to the community.”
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