UIS hosts Wellness Day 2013 to promote health awareness

The University of Illinois Springfield hosted its annual Wellness Day at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on Wednesday, April 3. Over 40 health providers and businesses attended the event.

The health fair featured free health screenings, advice on eating healthy, exercise demonstrations, and fun games for children.

“I earned my Band-Aid getting my glucose and cholesterol checked,” said Jennifer Rose, a UIS graduate public health major. “I also got a bone density screening, screened for sun exposure, got my oxygen levels screened. What haven’t I had screened?”

The goal of the fair was to provide free services and to increase awareness of health issues, which impact the community. The annual event was held in conjunction with national Public Health Week.

“Anybody can come to this,” said Christine Carver, associate director of UIS Health Services. “Obviously, we’re here on campus so we want students and faculty to attend.”

The event was organized by UIS Health Services and Springfield Health Check, which provides multi-level workplace wellness services to area businesses.

“It would take months to get all of this information. Going from place, to place, to place, it’s all here one stop shopping for healthy living,” said Gloria Sampson, a UIS graduate liberal and integrative studies major.

Carver hopes those who attended the fair left with some new ideas and healthy goals in mind.

“We really hope that people will take away at least one thing that is important to them that will, maybe, make a difference in how they think about exercise or increasing their activity and making themselves more healthy,” said Carver.