James January-February 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 81
WHILE MOST VISITORS to the Sunbelt Agricultural
Expo in Moultrie held Oct. 17-19 had their sights set on
farm equipment or livestock, a group of organizations led
by PCOM South Georgia gathered inside Agribusiness
Building Number 4 for the first time to make sure visitors
could also learn about health care issues, mental health
issues, and some of the latest technology for educating the
next generation of healthcare providers. It was all part of
the PCOM South Georgia Rural Health Initiative.
During the annual event held at Spence Field outside of Moultrie, thousands of visitors came through the
building hosted by the local medical school. They stopped
to listen to speakers discussing various health topics,
tried their hand at CPR on a training mannequin, had their
blood pressure or A1C checked, or talked with representatives one of the 30 non-profit organizations present.
“The initiative came together through strong collaboration between PCOM South Georgia and Chip Blalock at
the Sunbelt Ag Expo,” said Dillon Presley, Community Outreach Coordinator at PCOM South Georgia. “As the idea
grew into a reality, many health professionals and community organizations played a quintessential role in making
this initiative successful. This teamwork with everyone
in the community exemplified our value of collaboration
and showcased our commitment to addressing the unique
health needs of rural communities.”
Area healthcare systems participating in the initiative
included Archbold of Thomasville, CareConnect Health of
Cordele, Southwell of Tifton and SGMC Health of Valdosta.
The Georgia Department of Health District 8 gave flu and
COVID vaccinations. Personnel from the Georgia Ellenton Farmworker Health Program were on hand to share
about their efforts to help improve the health of Georgia’s
migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families.
They also brought the program’s mobile unit to display
inside the building to demonstrate how the collaboration
provides care.
“We provided a wide array of health screenings that
were well-received by expo attendees,” Presley said.
“Additionally, the ‘Roots to Wellness’ talks led by health
professionals and organizational leaders grew increasingly popular as the Expo unfolded. The inclusion of mental
health resources further enriched the experience, addressing vital aspects of overall well-being. These interactive
features resonated profoundly with participants, reflecting
our values of innovation and community connection.”
Those mental health resources included the non-profit
organizations NAMI Georgia, Turning Point, Georgia Pines,
Colquitt County Accountability Court, VA Suicide Prevention, Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance and the Office
of Insurance Commissioner and Safety Fire.
JA N UA RY/ F E B RUARY 2025
81
