honoured guests at the 2013 Preston Health Mela
The National Forum for Health and Wellbeing is pleased to announce that two prestigious national organisations will send representatives to support the 12th Annual Health Mela. This is to be held in Preston Guild Hall on Saturday, 20th April, in the presence of Guest of Honour, the Worshipful Mayor of Preston, Cllr. Carl Crompton.
The event will be opened by Chief Guest, Paul Buckley, Director of Education and Standards at the General Medical Council. The GMC is the organisation responsible for the professional education of doctors. Health Melas throughout the country have a clear educational component providing trainee doctors and others with experience of conducting health checks and counselling in a community led setting.
Professor Romesh Gupta, Chair of the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing (NFHW) said: “Community involvement is seen as an increasingly important part of the initial training of health professionals. In an era of ever increasing demands on our National Health Service it is essential that the community accepts a role in the promotion and maintenance of its own health. The Health Mela is a model of how this can be achieved and health professionals need an opportunity to develop the skills and experience to provide appropriate support for such events.”
The Health Mela is all about enabling ordinary people of whatever class, creed, orientation, religion or ethnic group to take control of their own health so it is very fitting that the Special Guest of Honour for the day is Shami Chakrabarti, Director of the human rights organisation ‘Liberty’.
Health Mela guests with Paul Buckley, centreMs Chakrabarti will tour the exhibition to meet visitors and exhibitors and speak on the theme ‘Health and Human Rights’. This is a theme of special relevance to NFHW as it works with Rotary International to organise similar events throughout the country.
The Health Mela is open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. Visitors will find stalls offering information, top tips and advice from a huge range of health related organisations. They will be able to take a free ‘Health MOT’ covering blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood sugar , sight, hearing etc. The Mela has something for all the family, with dance, face painting, refreshments, head massage, Reiki, henna tattoos, reflexology and more on offer.
Admission is free and free car parking is available on floors 7,8 & 9 of the Bus Station Car Park.
Other notes:
The 2012 Preston Health Mela attracted over 2,500 visitors. 280+ health checks were completed, resulting in more than 70 referrals for further action.
The Health Melas are supported by NHS Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups, Local Authorities, Rotary International, Universities, The Gujarat Hindu Society and Health-related Companies.
NFHW is working with an increasing number of Rotary Clubs to organise health melas across northern England.
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