Free Multicultural Planning and Pregnancy Health Fair

Region of Waterloo Public Health in partnership with Kitchener Public Library, K-W Multicultural Centre and other agencies will offer a Planning and Pregnancy Multicultural Health Fair on:

Thursday June 7th, 4:30-8:00 p.m.

Kitchener City Hall, 200 King St W., Kitchener

Healthy Pregnancy workshops will be offered in English, Farsi, Mandarin, Spanish and Arabic. Participants will be able to ask questions and have them answered in the language they are most comfortable with. Interpreters for other common languages in our region will also be available.

Each fair is designed for people planning a pregnancy in the future and people who are pregnant. Men, women, children, friends, and other support people are welcome to attend. At this fair there will be over 30 displays about healthy pregnancies, health care providers to answer questions, mini-workshops, information about community services, videos, food and door prizes. A workshop on car seat safety will be offered in English.

Everyone is invited to attend this free fair. This fair addresses the needs of our newest residents who often don’t speak English well or understand the Canadian system. Sue Morris, Manager of Reproductive Health reports, “With 1 in 5 residents in Waterloo Region being an immigrant we wanted to design a health fair that would meet their unique needs as well as meet the needs of the general public.” English speaking participants are also encouraged to attend.

The fair is planned in partnership with many agencies that address the needs of newcomers to our region. As a result, many agencies will be available to make participants aware of the many services our region has to meet the needs of immigrants and refugees. Kitchener Public Library will have a display and participants can even sign up for a free library card. The library offers many resources in other languages.

To obtain more information participants can call 519-883-2006 or visit our website at: www.region.waterloo.on.ca/ph.

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Media contact: Mary Mueller, Public Health Nurse, 519-883-2006, ext. 5025.