Cecilia Cota of Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo administers a glucose test to Guadalupe Hermosillo Tuesday. Photo Chelcey Adami, Tues. Feb. 21, 2012 (Chelcey Adami) |
Calexico native Alicia Fernandez has lost her sister, aunt and grandmother to cancer.
The concept of always being prepared and aware of potential health threats never slipped Fernandez’s mind growing up.
That is why after hearing about the Cancer Health Fair being held at the Mexican Consulate in Calexico on Tuesday morning, she made it a point to go
out and show her support.
“Any help helps,” Fernandez said.
The health fair, sponsored by Ventanilla de Salud, focused on bringing awareness to cancer and to the many services that different organizations
within the Imperial Valley provide to the community.
Gloria Estrada of Cancer Resource Center of the Desert estimated that more than 428 individuals in the Imperial Valley suffer from cancer, 70 percent
of which consist of senior citizens, 50 years and older.
“It’s important to make change in the community, by making people aware,” Estrada said.
More than seven community organizations participated in the health fair by hosting booths with free health services and information.
Sombra Chaney of the Imperial Valley Child Asthma Program was among the organizations that came out.
Chaney described how educating the community during health fairs is a rewarding job for her.
“Anytime you teach one person, you’ve already done a lot,” she said.
Event coordinator Adriana Buelna said she hopes monthly health fair events will help boost awareness in the Imperial Valley.
The next community event hosted by the Consulate of Mexico in Calexico will be a woman’s health fair in March.
For more information regarding public service organizations or health fair date and times contact Ventanilla de Salud at 760- 357-3863.
Celeste Alvarez is an Imperial Valley College journalism major interning with the Imperial Valley press for the spring semester.
The concept of always being prepared and aware of potential health threats never slipped Fernandez’s mind growing up.
That is why after hearing about the Cancer Health Fair being held at the Mexican Consulate in Calexico on Tuesday morning, she made it a point to go
out and show her support.
“Any help helps,” Fernandez said.
The health fair, sponsored by Ventanilla de Salud, focused on bringing awareness to cancer and to the many services that different organizations
within the Imperial Valley provide to the community.
Gloria Estrada of Cancer Resource Center of the Desert estimated that more than 428 individuals in the Imperial Valley suffer from cancer, 70 percent
of which consist of senior citizens, 50 years and older.
“It’s important to make change in the community, by making people aware,” Estrada said.
More than seven community organizations participated in the health fair by hosting booths with free health services and information.
Sombra Chaney of the Imperial Valley Child Asthma Program was among the organizations that came out.
Chaney described how educating the community during health fairs is a rewarding job for her.
“Anytime you teach one person, you’ve already done a lot,” she said.
Event coordinator Adriana Buelna said she hopes monthly health fair events will help boost awareness in the Imperial Valley.
The next community event hosted by the Consulate of Mexico in Calexico will be a woman’s health fair in March.
For more information regarding public service organizations or health fair date and times contact Ventanilla de Salud at 760- 357-3863.
Celeste Alvarez is an Imperial Valley College journalism major interning with the Imperial Valley press for the spring semester.
