Although the long-term future of the diabetes awareness program is unclear, Mr. Quinn said that he's pleased that it has helped foster education and a dialogue about diabetes in communities where access to health care has been problematic. “[Members of] the Delta Regional Authority are firm believers that it's education plus quality of health in a small town that equals economic development,” he said. “That is certainly an equation that Wal-Mart understands and agrees with. Hopefully we'll be able to find common ground and move ahead.”
A technician administers a fingerstick blood test during a Wal-Mart Hometown Health Fair in Eufaula, Ala., held as part of the regional Healthy Delta initiative. Delta Regional Authority