One World Community Health Center will host a free, family-friendly health fair Saturday at the South Omaha Campus of Metropolitan Community College as part of Binational Health Week.
The event is open to anyone, regardless of insurance status or whether they are a One World patient, said Vivian Garcia, outreach manager at One World. The fair runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Right now, we can see that there’s a lot of families that are struggling to even cover that extra cost that insurance doesn’t cover,” Garcia said. “So that’s the reason why we invite everyone. It doesn’t matter if you have health insurance, if you don’t have health insurance.”
Garcia said they expect more than 400 people, up from last year, when attendance was still recovering after COVID-19 forced the events to pause.
“It’s not about getting more patients for a clinic,” Garcia said. “It’s about getting these resources and getting education out in a community.”
Visitors can get cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure checks. Specialty services include dermatology, hearing and vision screenings, and basic dental screenings for adults and children. This will be the first year the fair offers ear cleanings for people who fail the hearing test.
Vision services have drawn the most interest, Garcia said. This is the second year the fair will offer full vision screenings with glasses prescribed on site.
“The only thing that they’re going to be asked is a good address to have those glasses sent over to their home,” Garcia said.
More than 200 people received glasses that way last year.
Garcia said the fair connects attendees to One World and other clinics and organizations in the Omaha area. Participants fill out a short form with no identifying information.
“What we also hear a lot is just navigating the healthcare system overall,” Garcia said. “Knowing how to go into a provider, to the clinic, to set up an initial appointment. Sometimes individuals are maybe just arriving here in Nebraska, and they don’t know exactly where to go.”
Binational Health Week is an initiative of the Mexican government, and One World coordinates its events with the Mexican consulate.
The Saturday fair is the last of three October events. One World also held one Oct. 3 at All Care Health Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and a women’s night offering breast exams and cancer screenings in partnership with UNMC.
More information on the event and others hosted by One World can be found on its website.