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Chantal Afuh, M2, SNMA community service coordinator; Sehr Haroon, M2, SNMA vice president; Olamide Alabi, M2, SNMA treasurer; Christine Ngaruiya, M2, secretary-historian; and Travis Hanson, M2, SNMA president; administered flu shots at Phil’s Foodway in north Omaha. |
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Several Boys and Girls Club members learned about healthy habits from Prevention Man, Medical Dude and Vernon the Vegetarian Veggie Bird. |
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Jackie Hill, community nurse liaison in UNMC’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities, administers flu shots to members of Greater St. Paul Church. |
From mid-October to mid-November, staff administered 400 flu shots, conducted more than 300 blood pressure checks as well as nearly 100 blood draws for diabetes, cholesterol, HIV and prostate screenings.
Their work took place at weekly Wednesday screenings, church and youth group events, the Open Door Mission and even grocery store check-ups. Staff educated nearly 585 people about health issues and referred many of those for additional tests and screenings.
UNMC medical students from the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and pharmacy students and faculty from Creighton University joined the Center for Reducing Health Disparities’ effort.
“This is what it’s all about,” said Ira Combs, community nurse liaison in UNMC’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities. “Reaching people one-by-one at their point of need can change their life and the lives of their family.”
“There are significant differences in health outcomes for minority and underserved populations,” said the center’s director, David Grandison, M.D., Ph.D. “Our works take a multi-layered approach through community engagement, education and research.”
Through this latest effort, the team touched the lives of more than one thousand people.