Man Hospitalized For Cancer Found During Oakland Health Fair Exam
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- More than 1,000 people attended an East Oakland church's annual health fair Saturday to receive preventative health screenings and exams, according to event organizers from the Allen Temple Baptist Church.
The yearly health fair, which drew about 1,200 people Saturday to the church on International Boulevard, provides free health services including hypertension screenings and dental exams, cholesterol and prostrate exams to uninsured East Oakland residents.
During routine screenings at this year's fair, one man was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment, event organizers said.
The shocking diagnosis came during the Allen Temple Baptist Church's 35th annual Free Holistic Health Fair at the East Oakland church at 8501 International Boulevard, according to organizers.
"It is these kinds of scenarios that demonstrate the need for community health fairs such as this one," said Gloria Cox Crowell, one of the event organizers.
Saturday also marked the local church's announcement that it will partner with three Oakland clinics - La Clinica de la Raza, West Oakland Health Center and Lifelong Medical Care - to found the Robert C. Scott Wellness Center.
The new health center will be named after a late local physician who was committed to providing health care for all patients, regardless of their ability to pay for that care, according to church spokeswoman Sandra Varner.
Addressing the health disparities in East Oakland is an ongoing mission of the church's Health Education Ministry, Varner said.
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