Education and advocacy: PhRMA’s ‘Roadmap to Health’ program stops in Manchester

Event Provided Health Screenings and Educational Information to Manchester Locals at No Cost

Sign Up For Our FREE Daily eNews!

1554560067218 image1
From Left, Sen. Donna Soucy, Dan Beliveau, Laura Perloff and Kevin J. Bourque. Courtesy Photo

MANCHESTER, NH  – Senate President Donna Soucy joined the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and We Work for Health at Sweeney Post #2 on April 5 for the first “Roadmap to Health” program event in New Hampshire.

This newly-created mobile health fair program is bringing educational tools, resources and health screenings free of charge to communities across New England. The Manchester stop was celebrated with a press conference.

Roadmap to Health was developed in response to the rising rates of chronic disease in the United States. According to the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), 772,000 New Hampshire residents had at least one chronic disease in 2015 and the number of people living with multiple chronic diseases continues to grow.

In Manchester, residents live with a number of health challenges, including high rates of asthma, diabetes and heart disease, according to the 2016 Greater Manchester New Hampshire Health Improvement Plan.

At the heart of the problem, nationally and in Manchester, lies access; communities most acutely impacted are less likely to be able to access resources to help prevent, detect and treat chronic disease. The PFCD estimates that with better prevention and treatment of chronic disease, more than 4,770 lives could be saved in New Hampshire each year.

Roadmap to Health will provide residents with knowledge about their health. Inside the mobile screening vehicle, participants can receive preventative health and wellness screenings administered and conducted by an independent medical screening firm, U.S. Mobile Health Exams. Available screenings include:

  • Total cholesterol
  • HDL cholesterol
  • Blood pressure
  • Body mass index or BMI

As Roadmap to Health makes its way to other communities, additional screenings may be added.

Soucy and Sweeney Post # 2 Commander Dan Beliveau joined Laura Perloff, PhRMA’s Senior Director of Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, and Kevin J. Bourque, PhRMA’s state director of advocacy.

“Health screenings are the first step an individual can take to be proactive about improving their health. These screenings are an important tool people can utilize to prevent chronic diseases,” said Soucy. “I would like to thank Sweeney Post #2 for hosting Roadmap to Health today and thank PhRMA for helping to expand access to these critical services.”

“Sweeney Post # 2 is committed to providing services to our fellow citizens that will help improve their lives. As one of the largest American Legion’s in the United States, we are happy to have Roadmap to Health come to our organization today to share valuable resources and information with our members. Thank you, PhRMA, for partnering with us today to bring these health screenings to Manchester,” said Beliveau.

PhRMA aims to empower individuals to protect and improve their health and wellness by providing these community resources, including no-cost health screenings through the Roadmap to Health program.

“I would like to thank Senate President Soucy and Sweeney Post #2 for hosting us today. Since we launched Roadmap to Health in January, we have worked with dedicated community partners like Senate President Soucy and Sweeney Post #2 to provide the resources people need to make informed decisions about their health,” said Perloff.

Roadmap to Health will continue its road trip across New England in the coming weeks and will partner with community organizations, faith-based centers and others to provide resources to these communities.

Information provided during Roadmap to Health programs is for informational and/or educational purposes only. The program is not engaged in rendering medical or similar professional services or advice, and the information provided is not a substitute for the professional judgment of a health care professional. Individuals should consult a physician or other medical professional for advice regarding any medical condition or treatment.

 

About this Author