More than 600 residents gathered in Lauderhill for a community wellness event aimed at expanding access to healthcare and preventive services across Broward County.
The “Stay Healthy Together” event, hosted by Broward HealthPoint in partnership with the City of Lauderhill, brought medical screenings, educational workshops and food assistance directly into the community.
Organizers say the initiative is designed to reduce barriers to care by delivering primary and preventive health services to residents in their own neighborhoods.
“This is our third launch — Pompano, Lauderdale Lakes and now Lauderhill. We’re going to continue to go out into the community,” said Shane Strum, president and CEO of Broward Health. “We’re taking medicine and healthcare to everyone out there, we’re flipping the model.”
During the event, Broward HealthPoint deployed its adult and pediatric mobile health units to provide medical services and screenings. The adult mobile unit delivered 25 services, including 15 primary care visits and 10 blood pressure and glucose screenings. The pediatric unit provided medical visits for children and families.
In addition to healthcare services, volunteers distributed 700 bags of nutritious food, with 600 handed out at the event and another 100 delivered throughout the community. Organizers also served 700 hot lunches to residents, volunteers and staff.
More than 100 attendees took part in wellness workshops covering topics such as CPR training, water safety, sun protection and skin cancer awareness. A session on diabetes and high blood pressure was led by Vanina Molinares, while another workshop, titled “Breathe. Reset. Thrive: Three Simple Steps Toward Better Health,” focused on practical strategies for improving overall well-being.
“Strong collaboration is essential to building healthier communities,” said Melida Akiti, corporate transformation executive at Broward Health. “Working alongside the City of Lauderhill and our community partners allows us to connect residents with vital health services and support in meaningful ways.”
The event included participation from 47 community partners and was supported by 128 volunteers, giving residents opportunities to connect with organizations offering services ranging from preventive health education to social support resources.
Officials say the Stay Healthy Together program is part of the broader Better Together initiative between Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System, which aims to expand access to primary care and maternal health services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
Organizers say similar outreach events are expected to expand to additional communities across Broward County in the future.
