The Sonoma Valley Binational Health Fair will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the new Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, 19270 Sonoma Highway.
The fair is a free bilingual English-Spanish event providing health services and information to the entire community, with emphasis on the needs of underserved communities. Local and county health providers and organizations will participate and offer a range of basic health services including medical screenings, health care referrals, and cultural-linguistic health education activities and forums.
The organizing committee planning this year’s fair includes the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Sonoma Valley Hospital, La Luz Center, Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Valley Poder Popular, and Blood Centers of the Pacific.
“Last year’s fair was a big success, drawing just over 250 people” said Maricarmen Reyes, who serves as co-organizer. “It provided 120 flu vaccines, 17 dental screenings, 19 vison screenings, 35 pediatric screenings, 20 mammogram referrals and 65 glucose screenings. We hope to serve even more people this year.”
Committee members value this collaboration and the importance of participating in a healthy Sonoma community. “This is a natural fit for the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center to partner, as well a great opportunity to diversify and enhance the delivery of our services to our patients,” said Catalina Chávez, Community Outreach Navigator, for Sonoma Valley Community Health Center and La Luz Center.
Sonoma Valley Hospital will again have several booths at the Fair, notes Celia Kruse De La Rosa, hospital marketing coordinator. The hospital will provide no-cost flu vaccinations, information on how to prevent sports injuries, and breast cancer information informing women about its Project Pink program, which is funded by the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation each year and provides free mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women during October and May.
Fred McFadden, from Blood Centers of the Pacific said, “This year, for the first time, a lifesaving blood drive has been added to the fair. As a special incentive, the first 100 individuals who donate blood at this event will receive a free to ticket to the Oakland Raiders versus Arizona Cardinals game on Oct. 19.”
For more information about the event, call 931-1244, email at sonomavalleybhf@gmail.com, or through Facebook at facebook.com/sonomavalleybinationalhealthfair.
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