‘Know Your Numbers’ event promotes community engagement in health
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‘Know Your Numbers’ event promotes community engagement in health
In its fourth year, Mount Zion First African Baptist Church and UVA Health’s ‘Know Your Numbers’ event worked to get people engaged in their health. The event connects men with free lab work, health screenings, and resources to address health disparities impacting the community. This year, women were invited to benefit from those health services too. With over $1,000 in lab testing provided for each attendant, the event can make a significant impact on people’s health, UVA health director said.
“I believe that the doctor is the Lord’s servant, and I believe you need to visit them and follow their instructions to take better care of yourself,” said Alvin Edwards, senior pastor at Mount Zion First African Baptist Church.
Edwards began the yearly health outreach event to connect men with free lab work, health screenings, and resources to address health disparities impacting the community. This year, women were invited to benefit from those health services too.
Edwards said each year the event has helped around 100 men undergo lab testing and healthcare screenings. With the addition of women, they hoped to double that service.
“We started with men because what we think we know is that men are less likely to know their numbers,” said Jacklene Martin, director of community partnerships and health outcomes with UVA Health. “Women have asked us about joining the event, and we thought, ‘Why not include them too?‘”
Martin said that with over $1,000 in lab testing provided for each attendant, the event can make a significant impact on people’s health.
In addition to blood work, the event provided care across the health spectrum, offering attendants preventative care services they may not otherwise have access to. Offerings included mammograms, eye assessments, dentistry, and more.
“Every year we catch someone with a result that they were not aware of, and they get some services as a result of the testing that we’ve done here that we’re hopeful makes a real difference for them,” Martin said.
With free food, clothes, and haircuts on top of health services, Martin said the event was a display of togetherness among the organizations and groups working in and around Charlottesville — and the impact they can have when working together.
“It’s just doing a number of things to make a difference to impact people’s lives, because I believe that’s our responsibility as the Church,” Edwards said.
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Source: https://www.29news.com/2025/09/27/know-your-numbers-event-promotes-community-engagement-health/