Published: October 10, 2008 12:00 am         

Saturday health fair to target underserved

A health fair geared toward people who are underserved when it comes to health care will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Chauncey Rose Middle School, 1275 Third Ave.

The health fair is a project of the local chapter of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (THAAPI), which is hosting the event as its first major community service activity, says Dr. Raj Jeevan, who specializes in kidney disease. The City of Terre Haute is co-sponsoring the health fair. Mayor Duke Bennett will be inaugurating the event.

Bus service is being offered for free if a person shows a flyer about the health fair to the bus driver. In addition to flyers being attainable in different locations around town, they will be available at the bus terminal.

“People from the National Kidney Foundation are coming from Indianapolis to do a basic assessment,” Jeevan said. The mini-physical will include screenings for risk factors of kidney disease, including blood pressure, blood glucose and protein in the urine, as well as cholesterol counts, weight and other tests.

Following the assessment, every patient will be counseled by a physician, Jeevan said.

Nurses, social workers, physicians and volunteers will be available for counseling and to make arrangements for follow up, said Debra Stinson, LSW, MSW, a social worker who is involved in the event.

Those attending also will be able to visit booths set up by different agencies promoting services and products, including the Visiting Nurses Association, Union and Terre Haute Regional hospitals, nursing homes and Area 7 Agency on Aging. Any monies left over from fees paid by the agencies will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation.

Also featured are seminars every half hour by physicians on subjects including:

• Living with rheumatic conditions

• Why am I feeling sleepy?

• Smoking cessation

• What do you want to know about prostate?

• Diabetes and you

• Lung cancer

• High blood pressure: the silent killer

• Diet and exercise

• Chest pain

• Heart attack

• Osteoporosis

• Allergy

• Do I have cancer?

• All you need to know about your children’s immunization

Jeevan says individuals may choose between two subjects every half hour.