Published: September 23, 2009 11:28 am      

2,300 attend health fair

ELKHART — More than 2,300 people took part in the fifth annual Hispanic Latino Health Coalition of Elkhart County Sept. 12.

Twelve doctors, nurses, senior nursing students and volunteers arrived at 6 a.m. to find a line of community members that stretched half way around Elkhart Central High School.

According to coalition staff, it was another record-breaking event.

Chris Ryback, coalition board member said, “It was a very special day, so many people coming together to help so many.”

This year, more than 98 organizations joined Liliana Quintero, coalition executive director, and her team of more than 230 volunteers and 100 support staff to host the event. This was an increase in the number of sponsors from 2008 when 82 sponsors partnered with the coalition.

Goshen Health System was the primary sponsor. Final totals will be out in the weeks ahead but, according to coalition officials, “it is pretty clear that the total in services provided and scheduled that day will eclipse $700,000.”

The services offered included just about every prevention screening available. New screenings this year included lung function, skin cancer and sickle cell.

Memorial hospital officials on hand said that they did not know it was going to be the success it was and if they had known they would have brought more staff.

Quintero said, “That is always the reaction, the first time an organization partners with us. That is why we are able to increase support from year to year. Organizations are excited to partner with us because of the quality and turnout.”

Organization for this event started immediately following the fourth annual health fair in September 2008, according to coalition officials.

Quintero said, “We began to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and make changes to improve the event. We discussed what our partners liked and disliked and improved what we could.”

Joanne Camarillo, coalition board member said, “Volunteers began training in March of 2009 and the trainings continued until the day of the event.”

Some of the trainings available for the volunteers included: leadership, car seat technician, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, certified HIV tester and counseling, and surveyor, among others.

This year all partner organizations allowed the coalition to standardize paperwork. Quintero said this greatly streamlined registration as, instead of having one set of papers to fill out for each organization, there was one set of papers to fill out in general.

Several people visited the health fair from Indianapolis.

Carl Ellison, chief operating officer of the Minority Health Coalition located in Indianapolis and one of the coalition sponsors, said of the event, “It truly was amazing to witness. The only thing I have ever seen in comparison is the Indiana Black Expo.”

Pat Sanchez, executive director of the Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, said he was also very impressed with the event’s size, quality and organization.

Quintero said of the many visitors, “We are finally beginning to be recognized at the state level. That recognition is good for the area as we hope that it will result in increased funding for our community.”