Binational Health Fair offers screenings, health information

The Sonoma Valley Binational Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, 19270 Sonoma Highway.

The fair is a free bilingual English-Spanish event providing health services and information to the community, with emphasis on the needs of underserved communities. Local and county health providers and organizations, ranging from social services to educational, will participate and offer a range of basic health services and information.

The organizing committee planning this year’s Fair includes Binational Health Week Initiative of the Americas, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Sonoma Valley Hospital, La Luz Center, and Blood Centers of the Pacific.

There will be an array of entertainment provided including a kids’ corner, face painting, music by DJ Refugee, ballet folkloric Quetazalen, the Aztec dance group Ohtli Yolilitzli, and local Zumba and aerobics women’s groups. Food will be available for purchase from El Brinquito – a healthy meal of grilled chicken, green salad and fresh fruit.

Blood Centers of the Pacific for a second year will be holding a lifesaving blood drive. Donors will receive a Blood Centers of the Pacific T-shirt and a free taco coupon to Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill. To register for the blood drive, visit www.bloodheroes.com using the code SBNH.

Sonoma Valley Hospital will be providing no-cost flu vaccinations. The hospital will also have information about breast cancer and the Project Pink program, which is funded by the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation providing free mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women ages 40 and older during October.

Physical therapists will be on hand to discuss common aches and pains and sports injury prevention.

The Sonoma Valley Community Health Center and La Luz Center booths will focus on Covered California, as enrollment begins Nov. 1, as well as information of services provided by their organizations.

For more information about the event, call 931-1244, email at sonomavalleybhf@gmail.com, or Facebook/Sonoma Valley Binational Health Fair.