Hands on community service by Lions Club

Lions Clubs region chair Ladyvir Canape, seated left, joins the nurses and staff of CHCC and its Family Care Clinic, and members of the Northern Marianas College Nursing Club in Sunday’s Health Fair. (Jon Perez)

The Lions Clubs International does not only give out financial aid or assistance to communities but also offer a hands-on approach in every aspect of service, according to visiting district governor Daniel Yang.

Yang, the District 204-Region II governor was on Saipan to join the local Lions clubs—the Saipan Filipino-American Lions Club, Saipan Marianas Lions Club, Saipan Unity Lions Club, Tinian Marianas Lions Club, and the Rota Marianas Lions Club—in Sunday’s annual Health Fair held at Mt. Carmel Cathedral’s Joeten Dai-Dai Social Hall in Chalan Kanoa.

“Lions Clubs International participates in every community project. Whether it involves the youth, the elderly or the disabled; helping fight hunger and poverty; and in the environment like what the local clubs here do in repairing bus stops,” said Yang.

Several bus stops that were either damaged or are already dilapidated on Saipan have been repaired and repainted by the local Lions clubs.

“The Lions clubs are involved everywhere. We have a hands-on approach in helping our communities by not only providing monetary support,” said Yang, who added that the Health Fair is one of the Lions Club’s signature projects.

Lions Clubs region chair Ladyvir Canape said that the Health Fair and similar events organized by other government and private organizations help people to be more aware of their physical condition.

“Events like this teach us to be more careful of what we eat and to take care of our health. I am very happy with the turnout, which means a lot of people want to become more aware of their health,” Canape said.

Blood pressure test, sugar/glucose test, vision screening, and eye pressure test, and flu shots are some of the free services offered in the Health Fair that began at 8am and ended at 12noon. Medical staff of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. also held hold information campaigns on diabetes, cancer, and general health awareness.

They also provided eye check up and gave out free reading glasses, which are the trademark projects of the Lions clubs.

“I’m thankful and very happy to all the volunteers—Lions members and non-members—who helped. They’ve been working even before we started at 8am and are still cheerful in providing service to all who attended the Health Fair,” said Canape.

Canape added that the new thing they added in the Health Fair is records of all who availed of the free services will be kept so they could compare it when they again hold the annual event. “We will start with the comparative results for next year. To know if the patient’s condition is improving or if there are any changes.”

The Northern Marianas College Nursing Club, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. nurses, CHCC’s immunization program, PHI Pharmacy, Paradise Dental Clinic, the Commonwealth Cancer Association, and the Guam Marianas Lions Club are the service providers.

TSL Foundation, IT&E, Barny’s Pizza, NM Bartender’s Association, Jet Holdings, Kautz Glass, McDonald’s, National Office Supply, Sun Palace Hotel, Trader’s Insurance, Coca-Cola, Shirley Wilson Catering Services, D’ Elegance Café, Saipan Ice & Water Co., Wushin LP Gas, McDonald’s, Gold Ribbon Snack Bar & Bakeshop, JFR Corp., D&Q Saipan, Marpac, and KFC/Taco Bell are the sponsors of the event.