By Les Gura
A health fair in January at El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem attracted a diverse crowd of Latino residents for free screenings.
Fredy Ramirez left little doubt why he attended the “Know Your Numbers” fair at El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church with his wife and four young daughters.
He and his wife, Claudia Osuna, were measured for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, body mass index and bone density.
“It’s about our health. It’s one of the most important things in life,” said Ramirez, whose daughters range in age from 5 months to 7 years. “I’ve got to be healthier for them.”
As the Spanish-speaking population soars in Forsyth County and North Carolina, programs such as the health fair at El Buen Pastor are being developed to address key issues.
Rev. Rosa Miranda is pastor of El Buen Pastor, which serves more than 90 families in the northwest part of Winston-Salem. She said the idea of having a health fair came about after an asset mapping session held at her church in the summer of 2014.
The Division of FaithHealth Ministries of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center conducted the mapping session. The event brought together individuals, organizations, government agencies and non-profits to discuss areas of strength and weakness in the Latino community.
“Prevention is the cheapest medicine,’’ Miranda said. “It has many benefits, not only for the adults, but for the children. Because you have to make lifestyle changes, and these impact the rest of the family and whoever lives with you.’’
More than 200 people turned out for the health fair in late January at El Buen Pastor. Those who attended were asked to return in March to have their numbers rechecked.
After their numbers were taken, Ramirez and others visited education stations set up by many providers, including Wake Forest Baptist Health, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Forsyth County, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and more.
Ramirez and Osuna spoke with Angelica Guzman, a health educator for the Brenner FIT (Families in Training) program at Wake Forest Baptist Health. Brenner FIT teaches families about healthy meal options.
Guzman used a demonstration plate to discuss a proper balance of grains, lean protein, fruit and vegetables. The couple took home many useful tools, including the demonstration plate.
Miranda said that providing health services to Latinos must continue to be a collective effort. Latinos in particular struggle with two specific chronic diseases — diabetes and hypertension.
“I would love to be able to see every family with one or two health goals,” Miranda said. “Our model is based on prevention. We would like for families to know their numbers and go from there.
