Working Rhode Island To Host Free Health Screenings For Uninsured and Underinsured Rhode Islanders

Thu, 04/15/2010 - 9:36am

 Health Fair Will Offer Hundreds of Rhode Islanders Basic Medical Testing, Educationand Access to Follow-up Care

Providence, RI- With the issue of universal healthcare at the forefront of national debate, one RhodeIsland entity is taking a crucial step towards ensuring the health and well-being of every Rhode Islandcitizen. Working Rhode Island, a coalition of over 100,000 active and retired union members, will holda free Health Fair open to all uninsured or underinsured Rhode Islanders. The event will take place onSaturday, April 17, 2010 from 10am to 4pm at the Providence Career and Technical Academy (91 FrickerStreet, Providence).

 Over 140,000 Rhode Island adults are currently without health insurance, and that number promises toincrease as our economy worsens.  “At a time when far too many Rhode Islanders are going without thebasic medical care they so desperately need and deserve, we are pleased to host this important free HealthFair.  Experts from throughout the healthcare field will be on hand for various tests and screenings andwill also be providing educational materials and access to follow-up care,” said George Nee, Working RIChairman.

 

At a press conference held today at the Providence Community Health Center, Working RI members joined with others in the health care industry to announce this initiative. Stan Israel, Executive Vice President of New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, stated, “It is important that the labor movement do everything in our power to help everyone get the medical care they deserve. Health care should be a right–not a privilege.”

 

Jackie Fantes, Associate Medical Director of the  Providence Community Health Center, was happy to offer her support to Working RI. “I think more groups and individuals need to get involved. Health care is an extremely important issue, and I think it is great to see groups like Working Rhode Island and their sponsors step up and deliver for some of our less fortunate citizens.” Tina Nickerson, a Registered Nurse at Women and Infants Hospital, continued on that theme: “I see Rhode Islanders struggling every day with health issues. If we all make an effort to help, we can begin to make Rhode Island a healthier place to live for everyone.”

 

Working Rhode Island, in conjunction with various doctors, nurses, colleges and universities, medicalproviders and community groups, have joined forces to help those who may not be able to help themselves.Services offered will include blood pressure screening, Hepatitis C screening, cholesterol HDL/LDLtesting, vision testing, audiology screening, asthma testing, body mass index, oral cancer screening,educational materials and more.  Probably most important is that participants will also be given informationto connect them with services for needed follow-up and continuing care.“We encourage each and every Rhode Islander who is uninsured or underinsured to take advantage ofthis tremendous opportunity to preserve their quality of life.  These tests and screenings are being offeredcompletely free of charge and all results are confidential.  Working Rhode Island members have notforgotten about the plight of the uninsured and we remain committed to our mission of improving thelives of all Rhode Island families,” concluded Chairman Nee.

 

Participating organizations include Absolute Respiratory Care, AIDS Care Ocean State, American Diabetes Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, Boston University, Brown Medical Students Association, Butler Hospital, CCRI, Clinica Esperanza, Health Access RI, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Team In Training, Neighborhood Health Plan, New England Chiropractic, Open Table of Christ Food Ministry, Pfizer, PhRMA, Providence Community Acupuncture, Providence Community Health Centers, Rhode Island Department of Health, WIC Program, RI SNAP Outreach Project, RI State Nurses Association, Sojourner House, United Healthcare, United Way 2-1-1, University of Rhode Island and Visiting Angels.