Debut health fair focuses on fitness and nutrition
CALEXICO — “Let’s get healthy together” was the theme of the inaugural Calexico Health Fair, held at Rockwood Plaza on Saturday.
Sponsored by Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District, it hosted information tables from a number of health care institutions, and prominent among them was Heffernan Wellness 4 Kids.
This program is specifically designed to educate youngsters and teenagers about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and adhering to a nutritional diet by preparing healthier meals, noted Patty Carrascosa, program director.
They meet Monday through Friday at the program center, 1074 E. Cole Street between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. with classes for those from four years of age up to 18.
Their motto is: 5-2-0-1, which stands for five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, a limit of two hours of TV or video games a day, zero sugar from candy or soda and one hour of strenuous exercise daily to build cardiovascular strength.
“A lot of our teens are overweight or suffer anxiety so they’ll overeat to cope with stress,” said Carrascosa. “So we take kids on field trips to supermarkets and instruct them how to shop for a healthy diet. And we hold food demonstrations for parents how to cook healthier with olive oil and other low saturated fats.”
The wellness program currently serves 80 students. Not only has their physical appearance improved, but also their respective medical exams. They even reduced cholesterol and fatty liver levels (triggered by a high-fat/sugar diet). A number of the children, when starting the program, have high anxiety or depression, noted Maggie Medina, youth counselor. But once exercising regularly, they correspondingly have less stress and anxiety.
“It builds their self-confidence and their grades increase,” said Medina. “And if there are mental health issues, I refer them to Dr. [Luz] Tristan, the Wellness pediatrician. She can refer them to a psychologist or psychiatrist depending on their needs.”
Impressed with the wealth of health information was Lety Esquer, staffer with Migrant Head Start under the auspices of the Riverside County Office of Education. Esquer called the event an excellent opportunity to gain information on health resources in the Valley.
“I like the Heffernan table, it’s an agency dedicated to sharing health data,” she said. “The turnout today was excellent and hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to participate next year.”
Visitors also accessed screenings for diabetes, blood pressure checks and advice on obesity and weight loss. Entertaining visitors was the Rosa Maria Ballet Infantil Folklorico de Calexico. Dancers between four and 15 years of age performed dances native to Michoacan and Jalisco, Mexico.
Also participating was Ventanilla de Salud of the Mexican Consulate in Calexico, staffed by health-resource specialists providing health care information concerning illnesses common among migrant workers. Volunteering was Rosa Cesenas, outreach advocate of Cancer Resource Center of the Desert. She noted it was the perfect place to inform visitors about all types of cancer because it was a family event.
“Self-examination is very important and knowing your own body,” she said. “Remember the seven warning signs of cancer: a sore that doesn’t heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, lump in the breast or elsewhere, difficulty in swallowing, change in a wart or mole and change in bowel or bladder habits.”