By KYLE LOWE
NIHHC Outreach Coordinator

WARSAW — On Saturday, July 25th, the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition hosted a back-to-school health fair to distribute free book bags and school supplies to children and conduct free health screenings.

Overall, 251 adults received health screenings and 324 children receivied book bags with school supplies. This event was organized with help from the K21 Health Foundation, United Way of Kosciusko, Warsaw Community Schools, National Kidney Foundation of Indiana, Maple Leaf Farms, Anthem, Grace College & Seminary, MHS and Parkview, Warsaw.

“The event, was open to everyone and provided community members with the opportunity to take part in free screenings that will help them learn more about their health,” K21 President and CEO Rich Haddad said.

NIHHC offered free screenings like lipid panels, kidney, A1C for diabetics only, back exams, blood pressure, anemia and oxygen levels, with explanations of each result and ways to improve participants’ health. Dr. Iza Rosa said the event was her “inspiration to start offering speeches, in conjunction with the NIHHC, to educate people about things like what a protein is and what is the function of the kidney.”

The event included 63 community volunteers. Ralph Villalon, one of four volunteers from Lake City Bank, said, “I personally was tired at the end of the event, yet I had a good time volunteering because I met wonderful volunteers that were all willing to do what was asked of them and more.”

With the help of Anthem and MHS, NIHHC distributed 324 free book bags filled with school supplies to children kindergarten through grade 6 who arrived with their parents.

Exhibitors included Anthem, Bowen Center, Brightpoint, Grace College & Seminary, Kosciusko Community Hospital, Kosciusko County Promise, Law Office of Travis J. McConnell, Masterson Chiropractic, MHS, NIHHC, Northern Indiana Maternal Child Health Network, Parkview Warsaw, and Warsaw Community Schools.

Bilingual attorney Travis McConnell said, “It was a very exciting opportunity to meet the community and others looking to serve. I was able to meet many local individuals and discuss their concerns and needs.”

“This Back-to-School health fair was a great example of the NIHHC’s mission in action, which aims to reduce health disparities by making health services accessible to everyone regardless of race, age, income, gender, or national origin. At this health fair, 69 percent of the attendees were Hispanics, 27 percent were white, and 4 percent were Asian or African American. Out of a total of 575 attendees, 44 percent were adults and 56 percent were children,” Liliana Quintero, Executive Director of NIHHC, said.

NIHHC first opened its doors in Warsaw in 2010 and in the past fiscal year offered 24 health fairs and 7,560 free screenings to the community, representing more than $200,000 worth of preventative health screenings, not including the value of the time donated by volunteers and health care providers.

The purpose of the health fairs is to increase access to health services to underserved, uninsured community members. If participants require further medical attention, NIHHC helps them find options that are viable to their health needs and economic status. Participants can enroll in NIHHC health education classes offered throughout the year.

NIHHC also holds routine health education programs and client-based services from its Warsaw office in the K21 Health Services Pavilion and from its main office in Elkhart.
For more information, visit the NIHHC website www.nihhc.com, call (574) 372-3536 or email them. at [email protected].