Imagine walking into your barber salon for a scheduled haircut or full acrylic nail set, but leaving with a heart check as well. That is what happened to 30 men and 13 women on March 1, 2025, at Executive Grooming Barber Salon. Anton Minnis, proprietor of the barbershop on the corner of Shirley Street and Kemp Road, opened his doors to expand beyond being a space for style and grooming into a community health and wellness hub. Through a strategic collaboration with Regal State of Health Consultancy, our Caribbean-based boutique public health consulting firm, the barbershop hosted the impactful “Let’s Have a Heart to Heart” event, an initiative designed to promote heart health through complimentary screenings and health education to close out Heart Awareness Month.
From 8:00 AM to nearly 7:00 PM, Executive Grooming Barber Salon opened its doors to its regular clientele and anyone in the Kemp Road community seeking to take charge of their heart health. The event provided 43 individuals with free blood pressure and blood glucose screenings, offering them an opportunity to assess their risk factors for hypertension and diabetes, which are two prevalent health concerns across the Caribbean region that contribute to serious health challenges, including heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, and other non-communicable diseases.
Key Findings
- Blood Pressure Readings*
- 13 participants (30.2%) had a normal blood pressure reading.
- Eight participants (18.6%) had elevated blood pressure.
- 18 participants (41.9%) were at hypertensive risk.
- Blood Glucose Readings*
- 23 participants had a normal reading.
- 16 participants had an elevated reading.
- No participants had a measure indicating a high risk of diabetes.
*Note: four of the 43 people had unclear results, so their information is missing
Qualified health professionals were on-site for scheduled shifts to deliver immediate feedback, offer guidance, and connect individuals with resources for ongoing care. Regal State of Health Consultancy designed heart health pamphlets that provided bite-sized information on how the cardiovascular system works, signs of a heart attack and stroke, and the lifestyle, environment, and genetic factors that put the heart at risk. This pamphlet also included a section to document the participants' blood glucose screenings and compare them to a reference guide with measurement ranges for blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels. This proactive and innovative approach to wellness ensured that those at risk received timely education and intervention.
In addition to health screenings, Regal State of Health Consultancy engaged participants in discussions about National Health Insurance Bahamas (NHI Bahamas), The Bahamas' national health coverage program, which provides access to free annual doctor visits, laboratory diagnostics, and other essential benefits. Participants were asked about their enrollment status:
- 13 were already enrolled.
- 2 were not eligible.
- The remaining individuals expressed interest in receiving more information about signing up, with most of them being men.
To ensure follow-up care, Regal State of Health Consultancy is forwarding these contacts to NHI Bahamas, facilitating access to primary care for those who showed interest.
Many individuals, particularly men, may not regularly visit a doctor, but they do see their barbers. This innovative approach allowed healthcare to meet the community where they are most comfortable, fostering engagement and trust.
The familiar and relaxed setting also helped break down barriers to preventive care, making it easier for individuals to participate in screenings without the intimidation of a clinical setting. Attendees had the opportunity for one-on-one discussions about heart disease prevention, lifestyle modifications, and the importance of regular check-ups.
This initiative would not have been possible without the expert public health project management and data analytics services of Regal State of Health Consultancy. Our boutique consulting firm handled the concept design, logistics, and execution of the event, ensuring that everything, from health professional coordination to community outreach, was seamlessly managed. By taking a structured approach to health education and screening, we ensured that all 43 individuals received quality service and meaningful health insights. Thanks to the generosity of Bahamas Medical and Surgical Supplies, which supported the upliftment of health in underserved areas, the success was further amplified by defraying the costs of medical supplies, allowing for the capacity to screen 100 people.
Beyond the numbers, this event left a lasting impact on the Kemp Road community. Several attendees expressed gratitude for the opportunity to check their health status conveniently and at no cost, as this was their first time having their blood pressure or blood glucose measured. Some even committed to making lifestyle changes based on the advice they received during the event.
If you are interested in organizing a similar event and need support, visit our Solutions page to review our portfolio and schedule a complimentary 15-minute discovery call to discuss how we can work with you.