RCCA Health Fair provides services to 160+ participants Saturday

The Red Crescent Clinic of Alabama (RCCA), the Alabama chapter of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent in North America (APPNA-AL) and the Birmingham Islamic Society hosted their annual Community Health Fair on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Hoover.

The free event, which has become a local tradition, was open to people of all ages, regardless of income, religion, gender, race, ethnicity or ability to pay. No appointment was required.

Organizers reported that more than 160 members of the community were seen. After receiving a wide range of health screenings — including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, hearing and vision, dental, hormonal and cancer — each participant was referred to one of the volunteer physicians present for further counseling and discussion.

Over a dozen physicians participated in Saturday’s event.

The annual Health Fair is a cooperative venture between the three sponsoring organizations, and reflects RCCA’s continuing commitment to preventive health care and community service. 

For 15 years, the Red Crescent Clinic of Alabama has provided free primary health care to underserved patients in the Hoover community, regardless of income, religion, gender, race, ethnicity or ability to pay.

The clinic operates inside Hoover’s Crescent Islamic Center and is open Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. Volunteer physicians provide primary-care services, including vaccinations, flu shots and laboratory testing.

Established in 2011 through a collaboration between the Birmingham Islamic Society and the Alabama chapter of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent in North America, RCCA was founded on the belief that access to basic health care should not depend on a person’s financial circumstances.

“We started this clinic because we believe that even in a world where groceries have become a financial challenge for many families, no one should have to choose between putting food on the table and seeing a doctor,” said Tanveer Patel, co-founder of the Red Crescent Clinic of Alabama. “We believe health care should never depend on what’s in someone’s wallet.”

Although the clinic operates within an Islamic center and was founded with support from Muslim community organizations, its services are open to people of all backgrounds.

“Health is one of the most important things we have, yet it is often something people put off when finances are tight,” said Dr. Mina Khan, Executive Medical Director of the Red Crescent Clinic of Alabama. “Our goal is to make it easier for people to prioritize their health, seek care early and know that they have a place where they can receive help.”

Appointments at the RCCA are not required.

For more information, call 205-879-4247, extension 4.