South Omaha health fair caps Bi-National Health Week

UNMC nursing student Patience Smith provides blood pressure checks.

Jeanette Hauptman, UNMC women’s health practitioner, provides self breast exam instructions.

Catherine Binstock, Mobile Nursing Center clinic manager and Lisa Madsen, Mobile Nursing Center administrative associate, coordinate hundreds of volunteer shifts.

UNMC along with its Mobile Nursing Center (MNC) recently teamed up with other health agencies to provide a community health fair. The event brought 1,200 people through the doors of Metropolitan Community College’s South Omaha campus for various screenings.

It was the culmination of Bi-National Health week, which ran Oct. 15-20. The week is designed to focus on the unique health needs of the Hispanic community. However, the health fair was open to the general public.

MNC provided over free screenings and education on blood pressure, height/weight/body mass index, diabetes, cholesterol, breast exams and provided take-home colorectal kits. More than 300 people attended the MNC screenings. Vision, dental, ear, nose and throat, lead and carbon dioxide screenings were also provided.

For the past four years, the MNC has led the effort in providing these screenings in the south Omaha community. This is the second year for the partnership with Bi-National Health Week.

The MNC has provided screening/teaching/referral services to more than 30,000 underserved people the last 14 years.