Paris, Tenn.– In preparation for the upcoming closure of Henry County Medical Center’s obstetric services, an OB Resource Fair will take place this Saturday, August 26 at the Atkins-Porter Recreation Center, 301 S. Highland Street. The free event will feature several organizations and individuals from Henry County whose missions include providing specialized resources for women and children.
Henry County Medical Center’s obstetrics department is set to close Sept. 1 as a cost-saving measure for the hospital, which CEO John Tucker said, “With the financial struggles that have been in place at our organization for the past several years, HCMC is on the verge of financial failure and would not be able to sustain beyond year-end had this difficult decision not been made.”
The fair, which runs from 8 am-noon, will include staffed booths from the Family Resource Center; Henry County Health Department; Dr. Pamela Evans – Obstetrics/Gynecology Specialist; local pastors; and voter registration. There also will be a sign-up opportunity for those in need of transportation to pre-and post-natal care, most of which is more than an hour’s drive from Henry County. The event is sponsored by Northwest Tennessee Cares (NWTN Cares).
“When the hospital announced the closure of its OB services, underserved women and children in Henry and surrounding counties were dealt a terrible blow,” according to Caren Teichmann, president of NWTN Cares. “Families experiencing hardship not only operate with limited financial resources, but often have limited help from friends and family. Our goal for this event is to assist these women in exploring opportunities targeting their specific needs.”
These women are not unique to Henry County, according to Drew Wheatley, director of NWTN Cares. “We plan to host similar events in the other four counties which will be adversely impacted by this closure,” he says. “NWTN Cares is responding with action; we invite concerned Henry Countians to share this event with friends and family who could benefit from visiting with organization representatives who can help them.”
Northwest Tennessee Cares (NWTN Cares), a 501c4 non-profit that promotes social welfare.
Photo: Chelsea Bolen of Northwest Tennessee Cares posts a flyer for the organization’s upcoming OB Resource Fair. Several Henry County organizations that provide specialized resources for women and children will be represented.