Wal-Mart gives Delta Regional Authority $500,000 to hold local health fairs aimed at diabetes

The Wal-Mart Foundation has given the Delta Regional Authority to hold a series of "Hometown Health Fairs" at Wal-Marts in the federally designated region, 240 counties in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

The first fair will be held in Jonesboro, Ark., on Sept. 29. Others are scheduled at Clarksdale, Miss., Oct. 13; Eufaula, Ala., Oct. 27; Dyersburg, Tenn., Nov. 10; Natchitoches, La., Jan. 12; Paducah, Ky., Jan. 26; Charleston, Mo., Feb. 16; and Carbondale, Ill., March 15. Other fairs will be scheduled as part of the DRA's Healthy Delta initiative, which is designed to encourage Delta residents who have diabetes or may be at risk of developing the disease to see health-care professionals and manage the disease's long-term effects. Almost 10 percent of the region's population have diabetes, well above the national rate of 7 percent.

Each fair will include free screenings of body composition, weight, body fat and body mass index. Total cholesterol, HDL levels, LDL levels, triglyceride levels and glucose levels will be checked. Free blood pressure screenings and other health information will be available. For more information, go to www.healthydelta.com.