MEDDAC-AK helps community 'Hop into Spring'

By Ms. Brandy C Ostanik (Army Medicine)April 12, 2017

Hop into Spring
Medical Department Activity - Alaska beneficiaries pose with the Easter bunny during the 5th Annual Easter Jamboree held at Bassett Army Community Hospital April 1. The event drew over 1,200 community members together for health information and Easte... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- Families, many dressed in their Easter best, swarmed Bassett Army Community for the 5th Annual Easter Jamboree hosted by Medical Department Activity -- Alaska (MEDDAC-AK) April 1.

The event, which began as a small family readiness group activity about seven years ago, saw just over 1,200 community members come through the doors over the course of four hours, to participate in activities such as Easter egg hunts, crafts, games and health information.

According to the officer in charge for the event, Capt. Janice Martinez, the goal of the event was to provide the community with health and wellness information while also celebrating Easter and the arrival of spring.

For weeks prior to the event Martinez was calling for more prizes, more candy and more volunteers, most of which came directly from MEDDAC-AK staff members.

Unlike past Easter Jamborees offered at Bassett Army Community Hospital, Martinez looked to Ft. Wainwright partners to assist with creating the successful event. The Ft. Wainwright Community Spouses Club, Army Community Service, Chaplain Centered Services, Armed Services YMCA, Red Cross, and multiple FRGs joined the efforts through providing volunteers and donations in order to facilitate the event's execution while providing valuable information on their respective organizations.

"Part of our vision is to be integrated within the community, so by inviting community partners we are able to establish additional support for the event as well foster community relations", says Martinez. "The partners were invaluable to the success of the event."

While much of the day was filled with fun, the event also served to give information on health initiatives as well as community resources.

We wanted the event to be fun but also have our military family meet our hospital staff and learn about the services we provide; especially those that promote a healthy lifestyle and being a ready force, said Martinez.

To help facilitate meeting staff members and learning about many health initiatives as well as community resources, each participant received a 'passport' upon arrival. Guests were encouraged to have their passport signed at a minimum of 21 of the 24 tables set up throughout the hospital. When passports were completed, guests were able to turn in the passports for entry into the drawing for one of over 50 door prizes.

"Wellness promotion and prevention of disease is paramount in keeping our beneficiaries healthy. This event focuses on those crucial aspects of health while providing information regarding our available programs and resources," said Martinez.

The Easter Jamboree began in 2013 as part of an initiative to reach out to beneficiaries to provide health education through activities. This approach, to reach beneficiaries between doctor's visits, is part of an Army Medicine initiative to focus on the prevention of health issues.

There are 525,600 minutes in a year, and on average a person only spends 90 of those minutes with their doctor. MEDDAC-AK will continue to offer events and activities that focus on health in a fun, family environment.