VISTA — A fun, interactive health fair will be held this Saturday at Vista Community Clinic (VCC) on Terrace Drive.
Herminia Ledesma, program manager of the clinic’s health promotion center, said the health fair is for all ages and fitness levels.
Ledesma said the fair celebrates a healthy summer and school readiness. Its goal is to promote physical activity and healthy choices for the whole family.
“It’s for our current patients, and those who might not know us, to get connected with us and our community partners,” Ledesma said.
Participants will check in and receive a pedometer, fanny pack and passport to attend three information booths, a health screening and event activity. Once the passport is filled, they can enter a midday drawing for a kid’s bike or Fitbit activity tracker.
Event-goers are welcome and encouraged to explore more than the minimum number of health and fitness stations. Activities will include face paining, dental screening, health insurance enrollment and interactive information booths.
A mobile dental clinic will be on site to assess dental health and provide recommendations.
There will also be blood pressure and glucose screenings.
Another on-site activity will be a heart health workshop given by the American Heart Association. It will explain what heart disease looks like and how to help prevent it.
Additionally, there will be on-site assistance with health insurance enrollment.
Participants can find out if they qualify for Medi-Cal, which can be signed up for year round, or Covered California.
If they qualify for Covered California they will be informed about needed paperwork for the open enrollment period, which begins in November, and an enrollment appointment will be scheduled.
National Health Center Week is celebrated across the country with local events.
The annual celebration recognizes the value of community health centers to deliver comprehensive, high-quality preventive and primary health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay.
In 1965, the Health Center Program started with just two clinics. Today there are close to 1,400 health centers in the U.S. that provide a “medical home” for 23 million patients. The VCC health fair will be held in the clinic’s outside parking lot by its main entrance.
The event takes place Aug. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1000 Vale Terrace Drive.
