DETROIT, June 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If Charles Brown's wife hadn't urged her husband to attend the Health Expo for the Uninsured, this story would have a different ending. Brown, a 56-year-old director of business service at an on-line company, is one of the 1.2 million uninsured in Michigan. Charles had no symptoms but, being without health insurance, he avoided seeing a doctor and his dangerously high blood pressure went untreated. Fortunately, Charles was screened for hypertension by Project Healthy Living professionals at the recent Health Expo for the Uninsured held on April 28. Recognizing the imminent threat to Brown's health --- he was at risk for a major life-ending or life-changing stroke --- Project Healthy Living representatives counseled him to seek care immediately, offering to transport him to the hospital, and when he refused, made arrangements for him to be seen at a clinic. Still unbelieving, Brown returned home and later that evening revealed the results of the screening to his wife and daughter. Finally, he sought care from a local physician and was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with a severe kidney problem. A grateful Brown called Project Healthy Living to thank them for their life-saving efforts.

Charles Brown is one example of the more than 8,000 adults and children that took advantage of the free and low cost health screenings made available through Project Healthy Living at sites throughout metropolitan Detroit area during April and May.

More than 2,500 adults and children attended The Health Expo for the Uninsured held Monday, April 28 at Cobo Center. The Health Expo was co-sponsored by Wayne County, Wayne County Health Choice and the City of Detroit Department of Health & Wellness Promotion. 1200 insurance enrollment applications were taken at the day-long event which included health screenings and information for the uninsured and underinsured.

"Project Healthy Living and Wayne County were key partners in our year-round effort to provide access to care for the uninsured," said Douglas Halladay, director of the Michigan Cover the Uninsured Network. "Mr. Brown is one face among the more than 1.2 million uninsured in Michigan. In fact, he is one of the 'lucky uninsured.' His condition was diagnosed and treated before it escalated into a tragedy. Other uninsured individuals like Mr. Warren are not so 'lucky'; they are falling through the holes in Michigan's safety net."

The goal of Michigan Cover The Uninsured Network explained Halladay is to advocate for affordable healthcare coverage for all Michigan citizens.

"Our association with Project Healthy Living and Wayne County brought added value to our efforts," said Halladay. "Our work together --- and with other partners --- is pivotal to making the state's patchwork of health and human services easier for the general public to access. This year's Cover the Uninsured Week activities, in particular the Health Expo for the Uninsured, was successful in engaging the public and business and community leaders in discussions leading to broadening healthcare solutions for the uninsured and underinsured in our community."

Strategic Partners/Lead Sponsors for Cover The Uninsured Week in Michigan and MCTUN include: Henry Ford Health System, Trinity Health, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Detroit Regional Chamber, St. John Health, Oakwood Healthcare, Beaumont Hospitals, University of Michigan Hospitals & Health Centers, Michigan State AFL-CIO, DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

For information and to join the Michigan Cover The Uninsured Network call (313) 874-1677, visit http://www.mctun.org/ or www.covertheuninsured.org and click on "Michigan."

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Source: Michigan Cover the Uninsured Network

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