Weill Cornell student Markus Little, Class of 2005, checks the blood pressure of a health-fair participant.
Weill Cornell chapters of the Boricua and Latino Health Organization (BLHO) and the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) continued their tradition of organizing health fairs for minority communities in New York City by co-sponsoring the third annual Healthy People Community Health Fair 2002, named after former President Bill Clinton's 2010 health initiative. The fair was held on March 23 at the Hans Christian Andersen Complex (P.S. 242) in Harlem.
Renee Rolston, a 2002 HPREP graduate, paints a gold star on the face of a young girl.
The event, which offered free admission to the public, was organized by Weill Cornell students and focused on increasing health awareness for underserved populations. Representatives from Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields' office attended the fair and awarded Weill Cornell students with a citation commemorating their "dedication and initiative."
Representatives from Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields' office came to award Weill Cornell students with a citation commemorating their "dedication and initiative" at the Healthy People Community Health Fair. From left: Carlos Rodriguez, community liaison for East Harlem and Washington Heights; Tawana Winkfield, second-year SNMA president; Barbara Johnson, community liaison for West and Central Harlem; and Javier Llano, a policy analyst.
In addition to Weill Cornell students, many community organizations were present to answer health-related questions, including the Witness Project of Harlem, a faith-based breast and cervical cancer educational program targeting black women; Lighthouse International, a resource on vision impairment and rehabilitation; The Girl Scouts of Greater New York; and many other community agencies. Many students from SNMA's Health Profession Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP), a program for 10th- and 11th-graders interested in careers in medicine, also helped out. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital physicians and students from the New York University Dental School also volunteered their services.
The health fair included a bone marrow drive, which was conducted by the New York Blood Center. Free blood pressure, height and weight screenings were offered. Pamphlets containing information on gender-related and children's health, HIV/AIDS awareness, cancer awareness and other heath issues were handed out during the day, along with free books, pens, stickers, stuffed animals and toys. More than 150 people from the Harlem community and beyond stopped by with their families to gain knowledge about their overall health and wellness, and to participate in the fun activities, including face painting, and music provided by the popular FM radio station, Latino Mix 105.9.
Manhattan Borough President representatives Carlos Rodriguez (foreground, second from left), Barbara Johnson (foreground, second from right), and Javier Llano with Weill Cornell students (from left): Damilola Ogunnaike, '04: Patrick Hom, '05; Alfredo Maldonando, '03; Jenice Forde, '04; Yael Varnado-Rhodes, '05; Omololu da-Silva, '04; Tawana Winkfield, '04; Mustapha Saheed, '05; Melanie Wilson, '04; Valaine Hewitt, '05; and James Daniels III, '05.