Ramadhan Health Fair event at Wardleworth Community Centre

The health fair was held at Wardleworth Community Centre

A pre Ramadhan Health Fair was held at Wardleworth Community Centre Rochdale on 12 February to offer health and wellbeing advice and support to the community, in order to reduce health inequalities.

The event brought together a number of teams from the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) including specialist urology and gynaecology Macmillan cancer nurses, RNIB community liaison, bowel cancer screening, infection prevention control and a diabetes nurse specialist.

Rochdale Council Adult Services sensory team offered advice on the services available including home visits and the aids and devices that they can provide for the hearing and visually impaired. Pennine Care NHS Talking Therapies (Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale) brought along information about the support they offer for common mental health difficulties.

There were also opportunities to get involved in research to improve health outcomes; the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust research and innovation genes and health team spoke to people about a study whose aim is to improve health outcomes on people from Pakistani & Bangladeshi heritage. University of Manchester NIHR SAANS:COPD study researcher Dr Emma Shiel shared information on how south Asian people living with COPD can take part in a discussion about pulmonary rehabilitation to increase access, engagement and completion.

An informative presentation was given to the community centre's womens group by Dr Umma Marthi and the gynaecology nursing team from GP Care Services, The Willows Dementia Hub, in collaboration with Amanda Storey and the MacMillan gynaecology nurses from the Northern Care Alliance, which was very well received.

Mohammed Tariq, from Rochdale Infirmary who co-produced the event with Mohammed Miah from Wardleworth Community Centre said: “The event was a great success, it was wonderful to see so many people attend the event and speak to the various teams.

"The aim of the event was to bring health and wellbeing advice and support to the heart of the communities we serve, particularly those that are under-served and underrepresented, reduce health inequalities and encourage participation in health research.

"Research improves services and treatments not just for the individuals taking part but also for future generations. It helps develop new tests as well as methods for disease prevention, early detection, and improved quality of life.

“I want to express my gratitude to everyone who attended and supported event, particularly Dr Umma Marthi who gave her valuable time to give an impactful talk on gynaecological matters to the women’s group.”