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103 participate in free health screening
Dr. Celia Lamkin, seated left, Rev. Father Rey Rosal, seated center, and Ron Lamkin, seated right, take a group photo after providing free health services to the community on Easter Sunday at the San Jose Parish on April 20, 2014. (Contributed Photo)
About 103 community members availed of free health services organized by the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance Marianas Chapter at the San Jose Church last Sunday, April 20.
The program, which started at 7:30am and ended at 11am, provided blood pressure checks, blood sugar test, weight, height, and body mass index determinations. Free brochures on disease prevention were handed out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute of Health.
USP4GG Marianas Chapter chair Dr. Celia Lamkin said the event had a great turnout. “The participants were very grateful and satisfied with the health awareness and free health screening we provided on Easter Sunday,” she said.
Rev. Fr. Rey Rosal was very grateful to the USP4GG Marianas Chapter for providing free health services to his parishioners and other members of the community.
“During the Holy Week, we focused on our spiritual nourishment and after, the faithful should attend to their physical health,” Rosal said.
Lamkin’s husband, Ron Lamkin, performed the body mass index for participants, while other volunteers provided health clinic services.
“Due to the poor economy of the CNMI, a free health screening is very useful because many patients cannot afford to go to doctors. Members of the community rarely know that they have high blood sugar. This provides them with the awareness of their own health issues,” Ron Lamkin said.
Participants who had high blood sugar were advised to visit their family doctors.
Ron Lamkin said that many were surprised to learn that their blood pressure and blood sugar were high and were happy to learn that these health issues can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medications.
“Since hypertension and diabetes are silent killers, many people are unaware that they have health problems,” he said.
The event sponsors were Ron and Dr. Celia Lamkin, Charles Lamkin, Jess Yumul of YCO Corp., and Nhitz Manalo.
Dr. Lamkin said she is grateful to the sponsors and volunteers. “I would like to thank Rev. Fr. Rey Rosal, San Jose Parish Church, the sponsors, volunteers and members of USP4GG Marianas Chapter, parishioners, and the Saipan community for their support, help, and collaboration,” she said.
