Health professionals from across the borough will be at the One Voice Mela this weekend.

The One Voice Health Mela will take place on Sunday 10th August, in Corporation Park, Blackburn from 12pm-4.30pm.

Anglea Ditchfield, Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation said, "Last year the One Voice Mela was a huge success and thousands of people attended. It was a great way of informing people about organ donation and the impact it has on the community. Being able to make people aware of organ donation is key and many who attended the Mela signed on to the Organ Donor Register. Allowing people to access information will enable them to take an interest in their own health and well being. I am looking forward to this year's Mela."

Health experts will be on hand at the Mela to meet and greet the public and offer advice and information.

Parvis Iqbal from Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Fostering and Adoption Services said, “We always try to link in wherever possible with public events such as this one to raise the profile of both fostering and adoption. We feel that this type of event makes it easier for the service user to meet us, pick up information and ask us any questions.”

Raising awareness about health issues and the social aspects of health is imperative to promoting good standards of health within a community and empowering people to take charge of their health.

Shahida Hanif from the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme said, “The Mela is a fantastic opportunity to talk to local communities about the importance of early detection in Bowel Cancer especially talking to people aged 60-74 years old to encourage them to take the Bowel Cancer Screening kit- doing the kit could save their life.”

Another participant, Kulsoom Satia from the Rosemere Cancer Foundation said, “My aim is to raise funds through my Artwork, selling sweets and donations . http://www.rosemere.org.uk/Rosemere Cancer Foundation is the local cancer charity for Lancashire and South Cumbria raising funds for extra equipment and facilities. It supports the NHS to deliver treatment to patients wherever they are treated – at the specialist Rosemere Cancer Centre in Preston and at the Cancer Units across the region. Rosemere also funds vital research, and patient welfare projects helping to provide the very best care possible for patients, today and in the future.

“I had a stall at the Health Mela last year and it was a huge success as not many people had heard of the Rosemere Cancer foundation and it was a great opportunity for us to raise awareness.”

Lifeline East Lancashire are involved in the Mela for a successive year. Zoe Gatland said, “We are really looking forward to supporting the Mela, this year, following a success the previous year. If you have any questions around drugs, alcohol, legal highs, shisha or steroids, please come and see us.”

Farah Hussain from Deaf Aware said, "Deaf Aware is delighted to have been given the opportunity to participate with the One Voice Mela.

“This is such a fantastic way of spreading awareness and highlighting issues, bringing everyone together and expressing the work we all do as individual groups. Deaf Aware believe deafness is such an important issue that needs to be highlighted within the Asian community."

The Cardio Respiratory team will also be present at the One Voice Mela.

Will Sullivan, Team Leader with the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Blackburn with Darwen said, "Lungs for life - Lungs for health : Are you lungs
trying to tell you something? Come along and find out what you can do to give them a chance."

Jenny Twaddell who is a volunteer co-ordinator for Lancashire Mind Limited said, "Lancashire Mind is really excited about being involved in the One Voice Mela in
August. We have a number of important projects running in the Blackburn area including the
ASC project in South-East Blackburn and our groundbreaking, flagship "Facing Up" - aimed at
Blackburn blokes. The Mela will be a fantastic opportunity to spread our message across
Lancashire."

Maureen Duffy who is Information, Advice and Support Coordinator for Blackburn Stroke UK said, "The Stroke Association are very much looking forward to attending this year’s One Voice Mela in August where they will be educating people on the risk factors of stroke and carrying out free blood pressure checks. Last year’s event was extremely well attended and was a huge success as
well as a fabulous family fun day out."

The Mela, which is being held as part of the Baiter Sehat campaign in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, aims to promote a positive attitude and to generate an awareness of the range of factors which influence health and wellbeing.