Ambassador Shear Joins U.S. Embassy Health Fair

September 27, 2012

Embassy Hanoi’s inaugural Health Fair drew a crowd of over 600 Embassy staff and family members, local nursing and medical students, health practitioners, and youth interested in learning more about healthy lifestyles and practices.  Ambassador David Shear opened the event with remarks about his own efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle and the power of taking preventive steps now.  Wearing a “Don’t Buy Rhino Horn and Products Made from Rhino Horn” sticker, Ambassador Shear also urged everyone in attendance to avoid buying or consuming wildlife products.  While touring the participating organizations’ booths, Ambassador Shear had his blood pressure checked and received a blood-glucose screening to actively encourage visitors to utilize the free preventative health measures.

Organized by U.S. Embassy Hanoi’s Health Unit, the event provided visitors the opportunity to familiarize themselves with health care options available in Hanoi and the region, to ask questions to the participating organizations, and receive information about preventive measures and healthy lifestyle decisions.  Blood pressure and diabetes screenings, vision checks, dental advice, ambulance tours, and calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI) were also provided free of charge.