Health fair gives residents free medical checkups

SAN LUIS, Ariz. - Maria Nevanez, who says she is medically uninsured, decided to get herself every free medical checkup she could, ranging from cholesterol levels to sugar levels and blood pressure, on Saturday morning.

"They told me that everything is fine," Nevanez, 64, said.

Sunset Community Health Center celebrated National Health Center Week 2008 with free health screenings and health information for the public at the Fernando Padilla Community Center.

David Rogers, chief executive officer of Sunset Community Health Center, said that the event's turnout was a big success and by 7:30 a.m. there were already people lined up at the doors.

The doors opened at 9 a.m. and about 800 people showed up to use the different screening and information booths, he said. "It was just a tremendous crowd. We were very, very pleased."

At one table section, people could get free screening that included cholesterol levels, glucose levels, flexibility and bone strength, blood pressure and HIV.

Delfina Delgadillo, 73, said she never has checked her sugar levels before and decided to attend the health fair to try it out. She said they told her that they found her sugar levels were a bit high. "They told me to double check with my doctor," she said.

Her husband, Rafael Delgadillo, came to the health fair to check his cholesterol levels because he has never done it before. "It turned out to be good. But I do want to get my eyes checked because one eye is bad, I believe."

There was also a table section where people received information on domestic violence, immigration, eligibility for the Women, Infants and Children program, legal services, the Mexican Consulate and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.

This was the first big event that the Sunset Community Health Center did in recognition of the National Health Center Week. It was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. and the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Joseph D. Gallegos, senior vice president of the association, said his organization is part of the safety net of the health care system for patients who do not have access to health care.

"We host this event every year in August and it's an opportunity for health centers to showcase for the community the work the health centers do," Gallegos said.

The organization is looking forward to expand the program to reach 30 million people by year 2015, he said.

"The reason health care community centers have such a vital role in the community is because these patients don't have anywhere else to go other than the emergency room," Gallegos said. "And we know that at emergency rooms. they're going to be paying three to four times the cost ... when they just need to be seen at a primary care setting."

Sunset Community Health Center Inc. is a migrant and community health center, receiving funding through the U.S. Public Health Service to provide health services to Yuma County residents.

---
Stephanie Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@yumasun.com or 539-6847.