You never know where you might run into Ebenezer Medical Outreach.
Huntington’s long-serving free and charitable clinic is located in the Douglass Centre on 10th Avenue – but you might see them across the street during one of the monthly Medically Indicated Food Box distributions they conduct for their patients with Facing Hunger Foodbank. They could also be at Huntington City Mission during their monthly outreach events with the Quick Response Team and with Marshall Medical Outreach, passing out essential items to help those in need.
That is just the start. On Saturday September 21, Ebenezer played a big role in the 6th Annual West Virginia Minority Health Festival at Ritter Park. Visitors to its tent learned more about the clinic, received giveaways like toothbrushes, and received a free blood pressure screening. According to America’s Health Rankings data, West Virginia has one of the worst rates of high blood pressure in the nation, presenting a serious risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. Of the 51 people Ebenezer screened, 21.6% had high blood pressure.
But Ebenezer does not just identify problems: it offers solutions. With high quality primary care, a Community Pharmacy, and innovative wellness programs, 70% of its patients with high blood pressure have it well controlled. Free, high-quality care is available to help the community’s uninsured and underserved overcome its most common and life-threatening chronic conditions.
Then there are threats like prostate cancer, which 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with during his lifetime. Risk increases with age, family history, or if you are African American. In fact, black West Virginians are more likely to die from prostate cancer than others. Many men do not know their risk.
That’s why Ebenezer hosted its first “Community Conversation: Fighting Prostate Cancer” on Monday September 30. A group of local residents and community leaders gathered to learn more about the risks of prostate cancer and to start the conversation on how to fight back.
How does a small clinic like Ebenezer cover so much ground? It has a secret weapon: amazing volunteers. When Ebenezer distributes food boxes, community members assist – including some of its own patients. Individuals and groups have donated bandages, sunscreen, and more for its City Mission outreach.
The blood pressure screenings at the Minority Health Festival were performed by faculty and student volunteers from the Marshall University School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy. The Community Conversation on Fighting Prostate Cancer had its meal donated by the Ross family and door prizes donated by Cicada Books & Coffee, Glenn’s Sporting Goods, and Le Bistro. Alex Simpkins and Alex Torres, the event’s speakers, were volunteers from Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.
Every day, Ebenezer is building a healthy community, both by the work it does and by the people it brings together to do it. Call 304-529-0753 or visit https://emohealth.org/ to join in.