African Community Group To Hold Health Fair And Celebration

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A coalition of African communities is holding a special health fair Sunday for residents in Southwest Philadelphia.

Africom, the Coalition of African Communities in Philadelphia, works to provide services to the approximately 100,000 residents from African and Caribbean communities in the city.  The main event Sunday is a health fair.  Committee chair Raphia Noumbissi says health services are very important because of a number of barriers in the community.

"The lack of insurance, the lack of language -- most of them are not English speaking and they are afraid to go to the hospital -- and also the lack of immigration paperwork."

She says the health fair also fills a social need. "They don't have family members here, so this is also the day for them to come out and have some fun. We're going to have African music. We're going to have soccer tournaments for children, women and men."

The health fair is Sunday, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kingsessing Recreation Center at 4901 Kingsessing Avenue.

Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio 1060