As a way to show appreciation to the north Omaha community and its neighbors, UNMC, NHS and the North Omaha Community Care Council (NOCCC) will host an open house Saturday, May 31 at the University Medical Associates (UMA) Health Center, 5050 Ames Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Wayne Houston |
“The open house was the idea of the Community Care Council members who felt they needed to let our neighbors and community members know of the various services available and show them that we appreciate their patronizing the Baker Place clinic,” said Wayne Houston, North Omaha community liaison for UNMC/NHS.
The community is welcome to join the festivities beginning with a community parade at 9:30 a.m. at Benson High School, 5120 Maple St. The parade will proceed north on 52nd Avenue to Ames Avenue, then right on Ames to the clinic and community center at Baker Place. Activities will include screenings for blood pressure and blood sugar, as well as height and weight checks. Health information booths from local agencies also will be present.
Entertainment activities will feature drill teams, clowns, face painting, dancers, contests and carnival games. Lunch will be served.
Houston said that before the UMA Health Center’s official opening in April 1996, the previous clinic was located at 56th Street and Ames Avenue, across from the old Ames bowling alley. The clinic was relocated because of a need for more space and to develop new programs to serve the north Omaha community more effectively.
To obtain that input, focus groups were developed and opinions were sought to help UNMC decide what programs would best fit the needs of the community. Houston said the focus was put on making the health center a one-stop shop where the whole family could receive various services.
“Gaining the input from the residents of north Omaha was very important in deciding what services and programs would best fit the needs of the community,” Houston said.
Current services provided at the clinic include family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, maternal care, family planning and immunizations, as well as the Douglas County STD clinic, a men’s health clinic and SHARING Diabetes clinic.
“With the expanding services, it was our intention to cover all health care needs for families,” Houston said. “However, we needed something to keep track of the continually changing needs of the growing north Omaha community.”
The NOCCC was formed in February 1996. Working in partnership with UNMC, the purpose of the NOCCC was to update services and to continue meeting the needs of the community. Community based programs and activities were developed to address health issues defined by the people of north Omaha.
“The North Omaha CCC identifies issues relevant to the north Omaha area, and council members provide suggestions to assist in improving health services,” Houston said.
With the help of various community surveys and input, many lifestyle and health programs were put into effect by the NOCCC and the UNMC/NHS partnership. Youth drug and alcohol prevention programs, Sudanese GED programs, nutrition education, diabetes education, asthma education outreach and pediatric reading programs have helped individuals and families take better care of themselves and their community.