Pharmacy in Harlem offers more than meds to improve health
Free monthly community events range from adherence to art therapy
Yogi Chavada, co-owner of Norwood Pharmacy in the Harlem neighborhood of New York and a treatment adherence coordinator, has been organizing free monthly community events for the past year that take place in a renovated room in the back of the pharmacy.
Events range from seminars on medication adherence, nutrition, and “Understanding Hep-C, PrEP & PEP,” to Friday night Bingo and art therapy.
On a sunny Friday afternoon in May, about 15 people living in the community turned out for an art therapy course. “They need some fun along with all the education,” Chavada told Pharmacy Today before he began instructing the group through some of the fundamentals of art therapy along with a basic exercise. Chavada (pictured above) also holds two advanced art degrees.
He made sure to tie the relaxing nature of the art exercise to health.
“We all take medication, but it doesn’t help with everything,” he told the group. “We also need to lead a stress-free life, and art therapy can help with that.”
Most attendees know about the events from being regular customers of the pharmacy. Some live several blocks away, where another pharmacy might be closer, but said they come to Norwood because the staff goes the extra mile for patients and the community.
“It’s like family here,” Lenda Morales, a regular attendee told Today. “You can always count on them.”