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170 avail of free services in EVM’s ‘Night of Giving’
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- A member of the public consults one of the physicians present at Thursday night’s “Night of Giving” at the Garapan Street Market. (Contributed Photo)
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- Hardt Eye Clinic optician Eric M. Mahinay checks the eyes of a member of the public during Thursday night’s “Night of Giving” at the Garapan Street Market. (Contributed Photo)
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- A Commonwealth Health Center physicians looks at the results of a member of the public during Thursday night’s “Night of Giving” at the Garapan Street Market. (Contributed Photo)
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- Volunteer nursing students from the Northern Marianas College take part in Thursday night’s “Night of Giving” at the Garapan Street Market. (Contributed Photo)
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- Empty Vessel Ministry president Rose Smith, right, poses with team members from the Marianas Health Center during Thursday night’s “Night of Giving” at the Garapan Street Market. (Contributed Photo)
Partners who helped run the event included the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., Hardt Eye Clinic, Marianas Visiting Nurses, and Marianas Health Center.
A row of tables were set up for members of the public interested in getting their blood pressure and blood sugar checked by volunteer nursing students from the Northern Marianas College.
Joe Jucutan, a first year student in the nursing program at NMC, said he volunteered at the event to “get experience.” Lina Manilili, another first year nursing student, described her work as “exciting” as she helped one man get his blood pressure checked.
Participants brought their blood sugar and pressure results to a team of Commonwealth Health Center doctors offering consultation that night.
In an interview, Dr. John Doyle said as of two hours into the event they had already referred some people based on their blood scores.
Dolye, who said the team at CHC is the closest-knit group of professionals he’s ever worked with, would like to see more community outreach done.
He said there are three pressing health issues in the Commonwealth: kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. All three, he said, are tied together.
He said he’d like to get outreach into the schools and other areas of the community, as “a lot of people don’t know” they are genetically at-risk for these diseases.
“Nobody wants to get sick,” he added.
Hardt Eye Clinic offered a booth where participants could check for general eye prescription levels and watery eyes.
They also had equipment to check eye pressure for cholesterol build up, according to optician Eric M. Mahinay.
Smith said it was her first time to undergo an eye screening as a busy work-life sometimes prevents her from taking care of herself properly.
She said she hopes more events like these will afford people the opportunity to understand and improve their health.
Smith would like to thank Esther Muña, CEO of CHCC, for her team of doctors, and Angel Hocog, director of the Commonwealth Arts and Culture Council, who let them set up the event, as well as those who donated school supplies for families in need.
She said that EVM intends to host more “giving” events like this in the future and hopes to let the community know of future events.
