A volunteer prepares to take a blood sample from Stephen Cooper during the Men’s Health Fair at the BVI Red Cross headquarters on Saturday morning. Photo: CHRISTINA KISSOON

On Friday morning at the BVI Red Cross’s annual Men’s Health Fair, Cindy McWilliams was briefing Boodhram Parmooram before his first prostate-cancer screening.

A volunteer prepares to take a blood sample from Stephen Cooper during the Men’s Health Fair at the BVI Red Cross headquarters on Saturday morning. Photo: CHRISTINA KISSOON
“First of all, I want to tell you that we’re so glad that you took the first step to come for your first PSA for your health,” Ms. McWilliams said of the Prostate-Specific Antigen test, which assesses a blood sample for signs of the cancer. “That’s a wise thing to do, especially for your age.”

The 42-year-old had heard about the annual health fair at his church, Tower of Faith Ministry, and he was one of 477 men to access the free health services offered on Friday and Saturday at the BVIRC’s headquarters in Johns Hole.

The annual fair, which began early in the morning on Friday and Saturday,also offered HIV/AIDS testing, eye examinations, diabetes checks, nutrition education and body-mass-index assessments.

The BVIRC will host another health screening for men from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday at the Virgin Gorda Catholic Community Centre.

See the Feb. 2, 2017 edition for full coverage.

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