HEALTH FAIR CATERS TO NEEDY ABOUT 1,500 SERVED AS CHECKUPS OFFERED TO BLYTHE STREET'S POOR.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer PANORAMA CITY - Some people had never been to a dentist. Others just came for a free haircut. And many who have no insurance came for a free health checkup check·up n. 1. An examination or inspection. 2. A general physical examination. checkup See Yearly checkup. . About 1,500 people turned out Sunday for a variety of health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract outside the Casa Esperanza community service center in the Blythe Street neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Many of the people in the low-income neighborhood are day laborers or have recently lost their jobs and can't afford medical care. Often, two families will crowd into one-bedroom apartments to survive. ``Some of these men have never even seen a dentist,'' said Maritza de Artan, director of the nonprofit Casa Esperanza. ``They are coming here because their teeth are falling out. It's very sad.'' About 30 doctors volunteered at the health fair. They worked out of booths and provided a variety of medical services, including pediatric pediatric /pe·di·at·ric/ (pe?de-at´rik) pertaining to the health of children. pe·di·at·ric adj. Of or relating to pediatrics. , dental, acupuncture acupuncture (ăk`y  pŭng'chər), technique of traditional Chinese medicine, in which a number of very fine metal needles are inserted into the skin at specially designated points. , diabetic examinations, ear checkups and nutritional advice. The health fair is the second one held this year and the fourth since officials started it last year. The area, once plagued by gangs and crime, has become safer in recent years, but officials say crime has increased recently. The event was co-sponsored by the Buddhist Tzu-Chu Free Clinic, an Alhambra-based nonprofit agency that brought a mobile dentist's office to the fair. Debra T. Boudreaux, director of the clinic, said it distributed care packets filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, household cleaners, baby formula and other items to help people improve their health and living conditions living conditions npl → condiciones fpl de vida living conditions npl → conditions fpl de vie living conditions living . ``So many of these children live in one-bedroom apartments together that we found children with bugs in their ears,'' Boudreaux said. ``We helped them clean out their ears.'' Van Nuys resident Joann Fonseca, 21, said she brought her three children, ages 1, 2 and 3, to get health checkups and free haircuts. ``They are having fun,'' she said. ``They get a doctor's checkup and get to see a dentist. Everyone's OK. Everyone is very helpful and nice.'' Dr. Stephen Denq, a Northridge internal medicine physician, said many of the people he saw had upper respiratory infections Noun 1. upper respiratory infection - infection of the upper respiratory tract respiratory infection, respiratory tract infection - any infection of the respiratory tract , arthritis, diabetes and asthma. ``I try to give them advice and free medicine,'' he said. ``The best thing for them is to realize the importance of prevention. I refer them to the free clinic in Alhambra or the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center (also known as County USC) is an 800-bed teaching hospital located in East Los Angeles in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. .'' The Buddhist Tzu-Chi Free Clinic is located at 1000 S. Garfield Ave., in Alhambra. Artan said Casa Esperanza is seeking donations of toys to give to children this Christmas and is giving families Thanksgiving bags with chickens and canned goods. Anyone wishing to give toys, food or other donations may call the organization at (818) 786-1076. Mark Chapa, project manager of Mayor James Hahn's Operation Healthy Neighborhoods, said the city plans to focus on problems in the neighborhood in April through June to eliminate blight blight, general term for any sudden and severe plant disease or for the agent that causes it. The term is now applied chiefly to diseases caused by bacteria (e.g., bean blights and fire blight of fruit trees), viruses (e.g., soybean bud blight), fungi (e.g. and help people. A public meeting is set for Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Mission Community Hospital, 14850 Roscoe Boulevard, in Van Nuys. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Doctors, dentists and others volunteered their services to the needy. Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer |
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