Free monthly blood pressure tests offered to Filipinos in Ketchikan, Alaska

Free monthly blood sugar and blood pressure screening especially offered to Filipinos is being provided by the Ketchikan Wellness Coalition

The screenings are open to all, but they’re especially aimed at members of Ketchikan’s Filipino community because our two top chronic diseases we experience are hypertension and diabetes,” the Wellness Coalition’s Alma Manabat Parker said.

“Volunteers are from PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center, those are the ones that will be doing the checks, and then members of the Sama Sama Task Force that do these outreach events on their own time,” Parker explained.

Wellness Coalition’s Alma Manabat Parker. WEBSITE

Parker said she hopes that the screenings will also educate people about what healthy blood pressure and sugar levels look like.

Participants in the screening can win a 10-punch pass to the rec center and their own blood pressure cuff. The screenings are part of the Wellness Coalition’s Sama Sama Tayo initiative, a grant-funded program that aims to improve health outcomes in Ketchikan’s Filipino community.