Hundreds attend free medical care event
By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 19, 2009 at 10:21 a.m.
Updated January 19, 2009 at 10:21 a.m.
More than 300 families have already flocked to Manual High School in Denver to take advantage of a range of free medical care sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.
The doors opened at 8 a.m. for the MLK Day Health Fair, but people were lining up as early as 6 a.m., a spokeswoman said.
About 250 volunteers as well as medical staff from a variety of local agencies are helping to provide children's wellness exams, women's OB/GYN services, immunizations, dental screenings and fluoride treatments, cholesterol screenings, mammograms, and hearing and eye screenings. The event is aimed at helping the uninsured, but people with government-sponsored medical plans like Medicaid also are being treated.
One of the most popular clinics was the women's service area.
In the first 90 minutes, more than 80 women registered for pap smears, pelvic exams, and screenings for common sexually transmitted diseases.
Another popular area was dental services, where 60 adults and children had signed up for exams and fluoride and sealant treatments in the first 90 minutes.
The demand for dental care is "incredible," said Julie Collett, a dental hygienist and executive director of Kids in Need of Dentistry, a local service agency working at the fair.
She said her group helped serve about 500 children and adults at another free health fair in August, also sponsored by Kaiser.
"We had to turn people away" at the August even, Collett said. She expects to treat hundreds of children and adults today.
The health fair continues until 3 p.m. at Manual High School, 1700 East 28th Avenue.
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January 19, 2009
2:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
Fisherman writes:
You would think we'd have more attend since there are nearly 800,000 uninsured in Colorado.
January 19, 2009
2:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
Willy writes:
Inner City Health Center provides low/no cost health care for those who cannot afford it. It is staffed by volunteer doctors and funded by many donors. They will be moving to a new larger facility this spring to accomodate the demand and provide additional services.
January 19, 2009
3:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
nyscof writes:
Denver adds fluoride into the water supply to reduce cavities. It's not working. Modern science shows that fluoridation is ineffective, harmful and a waste of money.
Stopping fluoridation is a win, win, win situation. You'll save teeth, health and money. Use the money to pay dentists to fix the teeth of low-income people dentists now refuse to treat unless they are given more money to do so.
more info http://www.FluorideAction.net/health