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DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. and AARP have launched the second leg of their two-year national mobile health screening tour, which aims to provide more than $60 million of free health screenings by April 2011.
The drug store chain said Wednesday that the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour will hold health screening events in over 3,000 communities across the United States and Puerto Rico during the campaign, with a goal of administering more than 2.5 million free screenings. To date, the tour has provided more than $27 million in free screenings.
The screenings — measuring cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels, waist circumference and body mass index — are being offered to those age 18 and older and are geared toward early disease detection and prevention.
Comprised of nine custom-equipped buses carrying certified health screeners, the tour travels separate routes in canvassing the nation. Each bus spends several days in designated cities to provide free services at local events, community centers, Walgreens stores and other locations, with a special emphasis on underserved communities.
After the screenings are performed, a pharmacist or staff member instantly provides the results and reviews them with the individual. Visitors also have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues that are available in English and Spanish. Consumers are encouraged to visit a doctor or health care provider if they have any concerns.
"During previous tours, I’ve seen how these free screenings can be a life-saving resource. We’re proud to carry on that tradition," Walgreens president and chief executive officer Greg Wasson said in a statement. "AARP is the perfect ally because of the campaign’s dedication to improving lives and offering greater access to health resources, particularly among those most in need. Together, we can tap into our strong community networks to make sure the tour reaches the people who need us most."
Walgreens said that of those screened during the 2009 tours, 68% had high body mass index, 64.1% had high blood pressure, 40.7% had high cholesterol and 36.4% had low bone density.
"We are pleased to continue our effort with Walgreens to help provide important health screenings at a time when many still cannot afford preventive health care," commented A. Barry Rand, CEO of AARP. "The results from the first year on the road speak volumes to the need for these basic screenings and will go a long way in increasing the chances for early detection of chronic disease and other potential health problems."
Free one-year AARP memberships will be given to all adults who receive screenings. Participants under the age of 50 can pass on the free membership to an eligible adult, and existing members will receive a one-year extension on their current membership status.
