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Health fair at Centro San Juan Diego helps 200 needy seniors
By Denver Catholic Register
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Photo by Robert Linn |
Impelled by its mission and the success of last year’s inaugural Latino Senior Health Fair, Centro San Juan Diego, in conjunction with community partners, served 200 people at the 2011 event Oct. 9.
AARP, The Urology Center of Colorado, St. Anthony’s Hospital, the Alzheimer’s Association and other organizations assisted with this year’s event held at Centro, the Denver Archdiocese’s center offering pastoral and family care to Hispanics.
Open to those 50 and older, the event offered free medical screenings and let participants know about other resources and services available to them.
“Many Hispanic individuals past the age of 50 do not get the exams they need either because they don’t know the importance of getting checked at this age or because they can’t afford the exams,” said Sister Alicia Cuaron, director of Bienestar Family Services at Centro. “This is why it is a blessing for us to be able to offer these services and also the reason why we have decided to continue this event next year in the hope of being able to help even more people.”
In a spirit of solidarity, the consulates of Mexico, Guatemala and Peru offered vital assistance in the planning, organizers said.
The health fair offered health examinations, flu shots, blood pressure and diabetes tests, blood analysis, Vitamin D evaluations, and for men, prostate and testosterone checkups.
“For … those who cannot afford these services, it can be a matter of life and death,” said Jennie Marquez, Centro’s assistant director. “Last year, various test results came back with potentially positive results for cancer.”
The outreach is received by participants as an expression of God’s love and care, organizers said.
“(They see) that through others, (God) takes care of them,” said Centro’s Laura Becerra.
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