Health insurer Humana is working with non-profit group Black Healthcare Coalition of KC to provide free health screenings in barber shops and beauty salons in black neighborhoods.
"When you look statistically, the African-American community has a much higher percentage of heart attacks, strokes, hypertension, diabetes, than other populations," said Jeremy Gaskill, regional president of Humana in Kansas City.
Type II diabetes may be the biggest health risk for African-Americans.
"We hear so much," said Janice Willis-Hichi at Chocolate City Beauty Salon. "We're not just hair stylists. We counsel and give advice, because they come with a lot of things on their minds, in their hearts, and they trust you enough to share it with you."
The program is called the “More Healthy Days” Barbershop and Beauty Parlor Tour. Humana is providing people with free health screenings and wellness classes at barbershops and beauty parlors until October. The goal is to screen 1,000 residents at participating locations.