WATCH Children’s Health Fair Brings Over 4,000 Attendees to Sugar Land Town Center Free Health Screenings, Immunizations Interactive Education and More

health fair

SUGAR LAND: The annual WATCH Children’s Fair in Sugar Land Town Center gathered record crowds on Saturday, March 1. Over 4,000 people were drawn to the “Ready, Set, Go” event for the free health and dental screenings, immunizations, games, prizes, helmet giveaways, interactive games and fun at WATCH Health Fair.

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WATCH an acronym to ‘watch’ for weight, activity, tobacco, cholesterol and hypertension is an initiative of the Ft. Bend Medical Society Alliance, in collaboration with Ft. Bend Independent School District. Since the year 2000, the physician spouses of FBMSA have organized the program and worked with FBISD schools to instill preventive healthcare in early childhood. Over the years, the program expanded to a children’s health fair and is now a community collaborative program. “We are now beginning to see results in our students,” said FBMSA president, Nomita Bajwa. “Now, after 14 years, we know we are making a difference!”
The WATCH program as part of the FBISD curriculum has been awarded by the Texas Medical Association Alliance for three consecutive years as an outstanding and innovative program. In addition to the partnership between FBMSA and FBISD, local business and non-profit organizations have been instrumental in making the event possible each year. Methodist Hospital Sugar Land, Memorial Hermann, Kelsey Seybold, United Healthcare, Ft. Bend County Prevention Coalition, KBRZ Sports Radio, MetLife, along with Oliver Foundation, American Diabetes Association and others provided funding or in-kind donations for the event. UT School of Dentistry, UH School of Nursing, UH School of Pharmacy, UT Physicians Bone Density and Blue Cross Blue Shield Van provided the screenings and immunizations.
Children of all ages flocked to over 60 partner booths which were fun and interactive. Whether it was food demos or learning about tobacco risks or the proper use of sunscreen the crowd enjoyed the beautiful, sunny day, the fun and the exciting performances. WATCH Fair included student groups from schools throughout FBISD who entertained the crowd with music, dance, yoga, roping, tinikling (performance art form from Philippines) kung fu, drill, color guard and other more.
Mo of Sugar Land Skeeters Baseball and HEB Buddy kept everyone entertained by mingling with the crowd and joining the student performers on stage! The health and wellness fair has been so popular that FBMSA has already received requests to participate next year. Visit www.fbmsa.org for further information.