Latino health fair draws 1000

1,000 get update on health at Latino fair
Claudia Vargas – rocnow.com – August 17, 2009

With the loud Spanish music of a live band in the background, more than 1,000 people made their rounds at booths set up Sunday at the fifth annual Latino Health Fair held at Upper Falls Boulevard and Clinton Avenue.

The event, which was sponsored and organized by Rochester Primary Health Network, was meant to cater to the Latino community in Monroe County, but many non-Latinos attend each year, said health fair coordinator Marina Alvarez.

She added that the fair is geared to help the uninsured and underinsured and “those who fall between the cracks,” of the health-care system.

Not only are many Latinos part of those groups but they often do not know about services available to them because of a language barrier, she said.

Those who attended the fair were able to stop at any of the close to 80 booths set up to chat with representatives or pick up information on everything from diabetes to dental care.

Elizabeth Lopez, 39, of Rochester came to the health fair with her family because she has been able to get hooked up with health-related services from attending some of the previous fairs.

“With the economy now, it’s very helpful,” she said about finding affordable health care.

The event also gave families the opportunity to get their children Operation Safe Child ID cards, which have the child’s photo, fingerprints and physical description and are designed to be used in case a child is missing.

Another stop was the Unity Health System mobile truck where people could get tested for HIV and get their results right away.

Adalik Rivera, who was working at the HIV testing site, said the Latino community is an important group to reach out to because HIV is often not talked about.

“They are afraid to talk about it … it is still a taboo,” Rivera said.

CLVARGAS@DemocratandChronicle.com