UNITED SIKHS-sponsored health fair draws crowd of several hundreds at the Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society

New York, NY: Over four hundred and fifty people attended the UNITED SIKHS’ Healthy Women’s Workshop last month at the 118th Street Gurdwara in Richmond Hill, receiving flu shots, free medical consultation, and tips for disease prevention and good health.

Hundreds gather to receive aid at the health fair

Services included height and weight checks, free flu shots, blood pressure and blood sugar level testing, eye exams, dental consultations, and free mammograms. Along with the services were many fliers about topics such as information about various health care plans, advice for regulating one’s blood pressure, guides on diabetes prevention and management, myths and facts of the influenza virus, tips on breast health and self breast examinations, and eye health manuals.

Dr Harmeet Singh Narula, who was instrumental in bringing many doctors together, said “Blood pressure and diabetes are very common in our community. They are preventable through awareness and timely screenings; we really need to do this.”

Throughout the five-hour fair, seminars about various medical issues were held for the attendees, instructing them on the control of a number of common ailments. Among the presenters was Indu Jaiswal, a diabetic educator, who discussed the risk factors leading to diabetes and how to control diabetes through proper nutrition. Also speaking were Dr. Abhay Malhotra about heart health, Dr. Gurmeet Singh Gill on seven tips to healthy living, Dr. Satwant Dhamon, an OB/GYN, on women’s health and nutrition, and lastly Dr. Ranjeet Grover, who addressed such issues as domestic violence and alcoholism.

Strongly focused on women’s health in particular, the fair’s mammograms were provided to twelve women by Elmhurst Hospital Center . Largely, the event was targeted at a community which does not openly discuss things like women’s health in order to both educate them and spread the word. “Sikhs are known to do a lot of Seva,” said Shamma Kaur, who came to receive a free mammogram, “It’s good that they [held a fair] here.” Most of the free literature distributed was both in Punjabi and English, an effort largely by Dr. Jogesh Sayali, in order to bridge language and generation gaps between the women attending.

Dr Dhamoon, Director of UNITED SIKHS, OBG/GYN expert

However, as part of the UNITED SIKHS Giving Humanitarian Aid Necessities and Assistance Impartially to All (GHANAIA) Project, the health fair was open to people of all ages and all walks of life. Strongly focused on women’s health in particular, the fair’s mammograms were provided to twelve women by Elmhurst Hospital Center . Largely, the event was targeted at a community which does not openly discuss things like women’s health in order to both educate them and spread the word. “Sikhs are known to do a lot of Seva,” said Shamma Kaur, who came to receive a free mammogram, “It’s good that they [held a fair] here.

Most of the free literature distributed was both in Punjabi and English, an effort largely by Dr. Jogesh Sayali, in order to bridge language and generation gaps between the women attending. However, as part of the UNITED SIKHS Giving Humanitarian Aid Necessities and Assistance Impartially to All (GHANAIA) Project, the health fair was open to people of all ages and all walks of life.

President S.Avtar S. Pannu with committee members & doctors

Avtaar Singh Pannu, the President of the Sikh Cultural Society Inc, said “This is the first time we have so many people show up in a health-fair; the Gurdwara Saheb is under construction and we are reaching out to all community members for donations. There is a dire need for such health-fairs.”

All in all, the Healthy Women’s Workshop was a feat in both organisation and cultural stigmas, as women ignored cultural insecurities about discussing their reproductive health. “We want to thank Mr. Avtaar Singh Pannu, the President of the Sikh Cultural Society, and other committee members, like Dr. Ranjit Singh and Gurdial Singh, who went out of their way to support this great cause,” said Arvind Kaur, volunteer coordinator of UNITED SIKHS.

For more information about community projects, please contact the UNITED SIKHS Educare Centre at https://unitedsikhs.org/educare

Issued by

Baljit Kaur
International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA)
UNITED SIKHS
646-688-3525