Health fair helps get the word out on resources
Pamela Sims of St. Charles recently returned to her job as a cashier at Meijer, a large grocery and department store.
Because nagging health issues have kept her from working steadily the last several years, the 40-year-old mother of three lost the health insurance coverage she had through her job. She won't be eligible to get it back until the next open enrollment and now relies on Medicaid.
To help fill in the gaps she faces concerning access to good care, Sims stopped at a free health fair Saturday at the Salvation Army in St. Charles.
"I'm here for an osteoporosis test and a stress test," she said.
About 20 agencies were on hand with free health information, including where to get mental health counseling. In addition to the osteoporosis screening, there were screenings for high blood pressure, depression and HIV.
Shannon Watson, executive director of the Tri-City Health Partnership, the agency that sponsored the health fair, believes that a real benefit is not just the services offered the day of the fair, but getting the word out on where resources are available.
"We're here to serve," she said. "With these trying economic times, our hope is that people are not hesitant to take advantage of the resources that we offer, and what the Salvation Army offers. What we offer is excellent care, it's fantastic care."
The Tri-City Health Partnership runs a free clinic in St. Charles and provides care and referrals for low-income residents who are not insured or who are underinsured.
Some who visited the health fair have no insurance, like Roland Berry, 44, and Sewa Dasilveira, 24, who came to the U.S. with his family eight years ago from West Africa.
Loss of employment compounded by other problems resulted in both men becoming homeless, and they are presently living in a shelter in Villa Park. They heard about the fair through Lazarus House in St. Charles, which also serves the homeless.
"I want to get myself checked out," Berry said. "It costs a lot of money for care - I already have medical bills and I don't want to compound that."
Dasilveira, a former Batavia resident and a graduate of West Aurora High School, wanted to get some basic care before pursuing joining the army. He pointed to the army T-shirt he was wearing.
"I take the test next week," he said. "I think it's the way for me to go right now."
Call (630) 377-9277 for information on the Tri-City Health Partnership.