Free health exams draw hundreds

BOLIVIA — The Brunswick County Health Department is offering free health exams this weekend. The exams are open to everybody and no registration or ID is required.

The Fish family moved from Boston about a month ago and hasn’t yet had time to find doctors. Joline Fish said, “We actually haven’t been to the dentist in over a year and you’re supposed to go every six months. So we got a little announcement in school about free screenings and I thought, ‘there’s a whole bunch of other fun stuff happening here today’ so we thought, ‘bring the kids.'”

This is the event’s 7th year and organizers expect about 350 people through the weekend. Brunswick County Health Department estimates 17% of people in Bruswick County do not have health insurance. The department’s deputy health director, Fred Michael, said, “We open it up to anybody. Anybody in the region can come and get a physical and can find out about their cholesterol, glucose, or their blood pressure. Those are three things that are very important for everybody to know.”

Doctors, medical personnel, and health department staff from around the state are volunteering their time.

The exams will be offered Sunday 9AM-2PM at the Government Complex in Bolivia.