Sunset Health Center reaches out
To celebrate National Health Center Week, one local health center will host an event to help provide health screenings to residents in Yuma County.
The Sunset Community Health Center will host its second annual event in San Luis Aug. 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fernando Padilla Community Center, 800 E. Juan Sanchez Blvd. At the event, staff will provide services such as glucose testing, HIV testing, blood pressure, cholesterol, muscle and joint pain screening, grip strength testing, height and weight, pregnancy test coupons and other tests.
Yuma County residents can also get information about referrals and visit booths from area organizations that offer a variety of services. There will also be information available about mental health, substance abuse, legal services, tobacco, asthma, energy and rent assistance, new laws in immigration and assistance for people with disabilities. Sunset will also provide information about its sliding fee scale for the uninsured, dental plans and women's health.
Sunset CEO David Rogers said in a news release that everyone should have the choice of a community health center as their health care home - and Sunset is not alone. There are more than 1,200 community health centers in the U.S.
"We provide high-quality services that emphasize primary care and wellness so that families can stay healthy and out of hospitals," he said. "National Health Center Week is a time to spread the message that we need to invest in an accessible and affordable community health system that can reduce disparities, improve health and achieve cost savings."
Also at the event, pharmacists will be on hand to answer questions about medication. Residents are encouraged to bring their medication to the event. The first 200 people to stop by will receive a free T-shirt.
Organizers expect at least 300 people to attend the event, including guest speakers State Rep. Lynne Pancrazi, D-Yuma, San Luis Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla, Sunset CEO David Rogers, Sunset board President Manny Figueroa and Zoni Pelroy, practice manager for the San Luis Sunset Clinic.
Entertainment will include a live broadcast from local radio station 104.5 FM La Campesina and raffles.
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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.
