Dan's Papers - February 15, 2008 -

Some days the world seems like a scary place. But, last Friday I got a reassuring feeling about the place where we live. The South Fork Community Health Initiative and the East Hampton Healthcare Foundation held their monthly health fair, which is free and open to the public, at the East Hampton Healthcare Center. Professionals from various medical fields came together to provide heart disease prevention tips, glucose and cholesterol screening, blood pressure screening, Reiki circle and stress reduction tips, HIV/STD testing and mammography scheduling to those in need on the East End. The place was packed, with folks lined up in every direction. Attendees were grateful for the health services that were provided that day. "It's nice because the doctor is really expensive, it is a very beautiful thing" said Ida Luna of East Hampton, who came to get her cholesterol and glucose levels checked.

I got on the line to get tested for HIV and STDs. Sam Martinez of East Hampton stood with a smile on his face joking, with friends. "It's something you have to do, you can find out a lot about yourself and it makes you feel better and secure to know that you are healthy," he said. "You have to tell the truth and the doctors will help you."

When it was my turn, I entered a private office where I was greeted by Dalys Febres, a counselor with the New York State Department of Health. "We come here three to four times a year to offer free HIV testing," she said. "The test is confidential, no names, we use only numbers and codes."

I stuck out my finger and felt a mild jab. Febres asked routine questions and answered all of mine. The test took ten minutes and as confident as I was that all was well, I felt a rush of anxiety as Febres presented my test result, even though it was negative. If a test came back positive, Febres would be required to follow up with the person and help him or her to seek the proper healthcare, a crucial service of disease prevention. Febres performs the testing throughout Long Island. "This community is pretty safe, there are mostly old families that have been here for years, with monogamous relationships. People are very health conscious around here," she said.

My next stop was the STD testing room, where Karen Diffley, a public health nurse for the Suffolk County Health Department spoke perfect Spanish to a patient. "I've worked with the migrant population for over 20 years," she explained. She and nurse practitioner Marian Webster took blood and educated me on their services. "We're here, doing work for the health department and doing STD screenings, providing an important service to the community," they said. These services are especially important since blood tests for HIV and STDs are often not covered under health insurance plans. As a result many people neglect to have them.

A healing procedure that also may not be covered by health insurance was the Reiki Circle. Joan Garro, a Reiki master with the Center of Living Light and resident of Sag Harbor, conducted a Reiki Circle. "Reiki is hands on, gentle and subtle. It is an energy balance that works from the inside, out," said Garro. "It effects the mind, which effects the body, which effects the mind: you come full circle." Reiki begins with meditation to quiet the mind and then the Reiki master moves her hands around the patient's body to relieve stress and sooth anxiety. "Today is the first time anyone has used guided meditation (CD) translated into Spanish! It was wonderful," said Garro. This technique was a popular service that day.

Heart health was a big concern for attendees. Maggie Lazo of Montauk escorted her parents, Rosario and Manuel, in to have their cholesterol and glucose levels checked. "It's a great help for us because a lot of people don't have insurance. We heard about it at our church," said Lazo. It was a family affair as Lazo held her tiny baby in her arms and watched over her parents while they were getting checked. Six doctors sat at long tables asking and answering questions about health, while everyone patiently waited their turn.

Every person involved in this project expressed genuine interest in helping to educate, diagnose and treat people for their personal health needs. "A lot of people show up, we're here the first Friday of every month from October to March," said program director Stacy Spencer. This event was also sponsored by Southampton Hospital and the South Fork Breast Coalition. For more information on the South Fork Community Health Initiative visit sfchi.org.