Pediatric Clinic Hosts “Boo to Bad Health”
Children Encouraged to Brush Teeth and Eat Healthy Foods
Date: 11/4/2008
BIDMC Contact: Zineb Marchoudi
Phone: (617) 667-7305
Email: zmarchou@bidmc.harvard.edu
Sponsored by the Roxbury Community Alliance for Health, the “Boo to Bad Health” party on October 31st provided an alternative Halloween experience for children of three community health centers—The Dimock Center, Roxbury Comprehensive, and Whittier Street Health Centers. These parties helped families celebrate Halloween with the excitement of the holiday mixed with a dollop of healthy foods and important education about oral health, eye care, and Halloween safety.
At The Dimock Center, children arrived in their Halloween costumes, decorated cookies and watched a bewitching performance by magician Bonaparte. They learned about the importance of good oral health from dentist J’Nelle Delica who demonstrated brushing techniques with a king size kangaroo. An often neglected eye screening was performed by optometrist Komal Thakore, OD, who stressed the importance of eye exams for children between the ages of two and nine years-old.
“For children it’s important to look for uncorrected prescriptions or turn of the eye,” said Thakore, “Correcting these kinds of things for young kids is essential in allowing the visual system to develop.” 
For all three health centers, the Boo to Bad Health event is a great way to help the community learn about services for children while enjoying the Halloween holiday in a safe way. Comments Barbara Couzens, Director of Community Outreach, “Most of these parents don’t want to take their kids out trick or treating. Boo to Bad Health brings together families to share a fun afternoon in a safe place while learning about services we have at the health center.”
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and consistently ranks among the top four in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. BIDMC is clinically affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center and is a research partner of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox. For more information, visit www.bidmc.org .
About Dimock: Originally founded in 1862 as the New England Hospital for Women and Children, The Dimock Center is nationally recognized as a model for the integrated delivery of comprehensive health and human services in an urban community. From its historic nine-acre campus in Roxbury and satellite locations throughout Boston, The Dimock Center provides vital services and programs to thousands of Boston City residents and families annually. The Center’s programs cover a range of services that include adult & pediatric medicine, eye & dental care, HIV/AIDS services, child & family development, behavioral health, and adult basic education. For more information about The Dimock Center, please visit www.dimock.org.
