Family Health and Fitness Expo
Saturday's Family Health and Fitness Expo in downtown Fresno targeted the Hispanic community.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show that one in five Hispanics has high blood pressure and that Hispanics are two times more likely to develop diabetes than Caucasians. Adding to the epidemic, many don't have access to health care.
Dalila Herrera with "Healthy Kids" said, "They don't know these programs are out there. I can't tell you how many times we've done an enrollment and they've been searching high and low and they find us by accident and they're so grateful and they really don't know about it. We provide medical, dental, and vision insurance, no monthly premium, you only pay a $5 co-pay when they take their child in and when their child is sick."
Those with a fondness for classic cars were treated to 150 of them with live entertainment as a backdrop.
Esther Palacios came for the music and was pleasantly surprised by all the booths providing health information. "A lot of people are not aware of the different kind of food eat and they're happiness to educate they're giving us cook books letting us know to eat more fruit more vegetables."
This little girl is already practicing what she learned eating healthy and exercising& at the same time.
Registered nurse Margaret McLane de Jovel did free blood pressure screenings while explaining how Hispanics are more prone to having high blood pressure. "It's a very silent damaging problem. You can have no symptoms at all and have high blood pressure."
The Foods Co grocery chain donated $2,000 dollars to the city of Fresno's Parks and Recreation Department today. The money will go toward a new park in Fresno that will be fully accessible to the handicapped.
By Itica Milanes
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