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Dancing
the macarena. Face paintings. Lollipops. Who ever knew that visiting the
doctor could be so much fun?
"I've been getting stickers, pencils and rulers," said Enid Rodriguez,
weighed down with a bag of goodies.
Did you see the doctors?
"Oh yeah, for this," the 10-year-old Modesto girl said, pointing
to a small bump above her eyebrow. "The doctor said it's a mole."
Rodriguez and her mother were two of the more tha 900 people who attended
the 11th Annual Hispanic Health Fair at Hanshaw Middle School in southwest
Modesto on Sunday. The event was sponsored by the Hispanic Leadership Council
and the Health Services Agency.
Providing health care to a community where many people are uninsured was
the primary purpose of the fair, but creating a festive atmosphere was equally
important, said Bev Finley, director of the Health Services Agency.
"People are often intimidated by the Health Services Agency and county
hospitals because they see them as big institutions," said Finley.
"Events like this provide an information environment where people feel
comfortable and can seek health care."
In keeping with the past, the health fair provided free physicals, glucose
and cholesterol tests and vision and dental care.
But the fair also broke from tradition. For the first time, the Health Services
Agency offered HIV tests. Planned Parenthood tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea
– both sexually transmitted diseases – and offered birth control
pills.
"Members of the Hispanic community are usually adamant about not going
in for those sort of checkups or talking about their sexual habits,"
said Edgar Garcia of the Hispanic Leadership Council. "So this year,
we decided to expand in that area.:
Keeping tests discreet was easy thanks to HOPE – Hormonal Contraception
Without Physical Exam – a Planned Parenthood program that started
in June.
The program tests for the sexually transmitted diseases by taking urine
samples rather than subjecting clients to a pelvic exam. Once the sample
is taken, a registered nurse can dispense contraceptives.
"It's less intrusive," said area supervisor Lisa Riley. "Now
we can test people who are scared of pelvic exams for whatever reasons."
Though women trickled into the Planned Parenthood booth, the event was primarily
a family affair and the largest crowds were found around the pediatric physicals
booth.
"It's been over a year since my oldest boy has seen a physician,"
said southwest Modesto resident Nora Garcia, who brought in her 13-year-old
son. Garcia's husband has been on disability leave from his job for several
months, leaving the family without insurance.
"The fair actually helps a lot of people who don't have health insurance,"
said Garcia. "We've been able to get caught up with my son's immunizations
because of it."
From Modesto Bee, July 26, 1999 Queena Sook Kim
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