The Virgin Islands Health Department is hosting its second annual USVI Health & Wellness Fair on St. Croix this week, offering a range of free health services to residents. The fair, which began on Monday, runs through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Services include clinical breast exams, Pap smears, HPV screenings, digital rectal exams, pediatric physicals, vaccinations, mental health screenings for stress and anxiety, and routine checks for blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels. On Thursday, Dr. Regina Flippin of the Urban Foot Care Center will offer free diabetic foot exams.
Although the Defense Department was unable to participate this year due to changes in federal administration, Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said the Health Department was able to build on what was learned from last year’s partnership.
“We modeled this year’s fair similarly,” she explained. “But we also tailored it to create linkages to care, so that when people leave, they’re not just thinking about today or tomorrow, but about how to continue their care in the weeks and months ahead. That’s what’s important, and what we often miss.”
Encarnacion shared how meaningful it was to see DOH staff come together again after years of being dispersed across the island. Many had been relocated since the modular units used after Hurricane Maria in 2017 were condemned.
“When we see our staff gathered like this — laughing, smiling, reconnecting — it’s truly heartwarming,” she said.
The fair has seen strong community support, with dozens of local agencies participating, including the American Cancer Society, the Human Services Department, the Agriculture Department, the Personnel Department, Paradise Chiropractic, and more.
“We want the community to know that the Department of Health offers quality care, and that we’re here for them,” said Encarnacion. “People should feel comfortable coming to us.”
Dr. Tai Hunt-Caesar, chief medical officer at DOH and based on St. Thomas, and organizer of the health fair, highlighted the fair’s broader mission.
“Our goal is to bridge the gap in care and address health disparities,” she said. “By taking these services outside the clinic and into central community spaces, we’re making care more accessible. It’s also an opportunity to collaborate with other agencies and organizations that offer critical wraparound services.”
“These services are available to everyone, regardless of ability to pay,” Hunt-Caesar added. “What matters most is that people stay engaged in their health. Prevention is key.”
Lashonette Schjang, who served as deputy coordinator of the event, emphasized the importance of outreach and awareness.
“One major goal is to connect people to care,” she said. “People can’t access services they don’t know exist. A lot of residents feel they need to travel off-island for medical care, but we want to show them what’s available right here in their community.”
According to Schjang, the fair has welcomed over 100 patients each day.
Last year, the fair was supported by the Defense Department’s Innovative Readiness Training Program, which brought in military medical teams and equipment to provide free dental and vision care. However, due to federal budget cuts, those services were not included this year.
“Even without that support, we said, ‘We can still do this.’ We’re committed to continuing this event and making it sustainable,” said Schjang.
This year, the Virgin Islands National Guard also stepped up as a community partner, providing volunteers to assist with logistics, biometrics, and medical screenings.
“They’ve been a huge help — serving as runners, providing medical support where needed, and really bolstering our team,” said Schjang.
Deputy Health Commissioner Janis Valmond added that data collected during the fair will be used to evaluate impact and improve outreach.
“We’ll be tracking our numbers and sharing the results after the event, so people can see the scope of what we’re doing and the services that are available in the territory,” Valmond said.
The initiative will continue next week on St. Thomas from June 9 to June 12 at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and on St. John at the Morris F. deCastro Clinic on June 13.
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