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Video: 'AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour' Arrives in Cities Nationwide To Provide Free Health Screenings and Services

Posted on: Thursday, 7 May 2009, 08:00 CDT

Bundle of six health screenings are valued at more than $140; administered for free

DEERFIELD, Ill., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour is arriving in cities nationwide as part of a 3,000-community, two-year national mobile health screening tour with a goal of providing more than $60 million worth of free health screenings. The tour aims to administer more than 2.5 million free screenings and is comprised of nine custom-equipped buses with dedicated staffs of Walgreens trained medical technicians. This is the fifth year Walgreens has committed to providing free health screenings through a traveling health screening campaign.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/aarp-walgreens/37888/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090507/NY12494 )

The free screenings -- which include total cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels, waist circumference and body mass index -- will help provide adults with a critical foundation for early disease detection and prevention.

"We are pleased to team up with Walgreens to help provide important health screenings at a time when many cannot afford preventive health care," said A. Barry Rand, AARP's Chief Executive Officer. "It is clear the health crisis in our country has reached a critical point. AARP looks forward to helping Walgreens make these much-needed health screenings available to all, as well as providing information that will greatly increase the chances for early detection of chronic disease and other potential health problems."

"During previous tours, I witnessed how these free screenings can be a life-saving resource. We're proud to carry on that tradition," said Greg Wasson, Walgreens President and CEO. "Joining with AARP for our renewed effort is perfect because of the campaign's dedication to improving lives and offering greater access to health resources, particularly among those most in need. Together, we can tap into our strong community networks to make sure the tour reaches the people who need us most."

Each AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour bus will spend several days in designated cities providing free services at local events, community centers, Walgreens store locations and other select locations with a special emphasis on underserved communities. Screenings are recommended for adults age 18 and older. Results are instantly provided and consumers are encouraged to visit a doctor or health care provider to discuss them. Visitors also have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues that are available in both English and Spanish.

As proven through previous Walgreens programs, health screenings are a critical method for detecting potential diseases before symptoms are noticed. In fact, of those screened during the 2008 tours:

• 72.8% had high blood pressure levels
• 68.2% had high body mass index
• 65.9% had low bone density
• 60.5% had a waist circumference outside of the normal range
• 38.0% had high cholesterol levels
• 13.3% had high glucose levels

Consumers can learn when the tour is scheduled to serve their community by calling toll-free 1-866-484-8687 or online at www.aarpwalgreens.com/tour. Free, one-year AARP memberships will be given to all adults who receive screenings. Participants under the age of 50 can pass on the free membership to an eligible adult, and existing members will receive a one-year extension on their current membership status.

Press Contact:

SOURCE AARP; Walgreens

Source: PR Newswire

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