Codman Square Health program initiative
By Gage Vieno, Special to the Reporter
For many customers of Unique Cuts in Lower Mills, a visit to the shop is part of a regular routine. This month, the routine has been enhanced with an opportunity for customers to check on something that can be easy to overlook: their blood pressure.
Codman Square Health Center brought its “Barber Shops & Blood Pressure” initiative to Unique Cuts on Dorchester Avenue this month, offering free screenings and health information alongside the shop’s usual services.
The month-long program is intended to make preventive health care more accessible by bringing screenings directly into neighborhood barbershops, which health officials say serve as trusted gathering places for residents who may not regularly see a primary care provider.
For Dr. Myriame D. Pierre, the manager and co-owner at Unique Cuts, that accessibility is central to why the program matters.
“Sometimes they are not aware of their health conditions,” Pierre said. “Maybe sometimes they’re not connected to a primary care physician. So we want to make sure that when they come here, not only do we care about their grooming needs, but we also care about their overall health.”
For Dorchester resident Eudine Mahon, the screening offered a quick check on her health while she was in the area. “I got perfect results. Now I feel so special,” she said.
The experience also prompted Mahon to bring her mother into the shop later on, making sure she, too, was taking steps to stay on top of her health.
The initiative comes as Dorchester and Mattapan continue to face higher rates of hypertension than the rest of Boston. Codman Square Health Center notes that roughly one-quarter of Boston adults have diagnosed hypertension, compared with 32 to 35 percent of adults in Dorchester and about 40 percent in Mattapan.
The screenings at Unique Cuts are part of a larger effort to reach people in places where they already spend time rather than expecting them to seek out a medical office.
Pierre said she sees the approach as a way of bringing health education directly into the community.
“When I see an initiative like this one, that tells me that they are definitely putting things in place in order to bring education to the community so that they are well educated and informed about next steps, and the best decisions to make for their health,” she said.
Codman’s program provides blood pressure readings, information on maintaining healthy levels and referrals to primary care and follow-up services when appropriate. The screenings do not require an appointment and are open to everyone.
For Pierre, the blood pressure screenings could be just the beginning.
She would like to see future events bring other forms of healthcare and education into the shop, including screenings related to oral health, heart health, and orthopedics. But one area stands out to her.
“Most importantly, I’d have to say mental health, because I feel like that is something that’s taboo and not being spoken about,” she said. “But it is very present.
“It’s something that we need to definitely bring a change to so that people can feel comfortable,” she added. “Understanding that it’s okay to get the extra support and get the extra help that they need,”
Codman Square Health Center will continue its “Barber Shops & Blood Pressure” tour throughout August, with additional screenings scheduled at Unique Cuts on Aug. 28.
