Health Care Fair for Bronx Families Held at La Central YMCA in South Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, NYC Health + Hospital’s NYC Care program, BronxNet, and La Central YMCA hosted a health care fair for Bronx families at La Central YMCA in the South Bronx on Saturday, April 1. There was free access to YMCA gym facilities and classes, and educational workshops on topics including nutrition, Diabetes prevention and smoking cessation. There was also health care enrollment and support, blood donation, COVID-19 testing and vaccination, health screenings (Hepatitis B & C, blood pressure, Diabetes, HIV, and more), and information on community and government resources.

Additionally, PEU public health educators provided information about health plan options, the availability of enhanced financial assistance, how to enroll, and how to get free enrollment help through GetCoveredNYC. Interpretation services were provided by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs in Arabic, French, Igbo, Mixteca, Quechua/Kichwa, Spanish, Garifuna, and Wolof.

The event is part of a broad, citywide outreach effort by GetCoveredNYC and NYC Care to enroll eligible New Yorkers in healthcare and healthcare access programs and encourage them to make a primary care appointment.

The program commenced with a speaking program featuring YMCA La Central senior director, Nadia Arroyo, public engagement unit GetCoveredNYC specialists, Orville Berry and Tania Navaras, NYC Care director of community affairs, Theresa Doherty, Sauti Yetu representative, Tiguidanke Keita, BronxNet executive director, Michael Max Knobbe, and American rapper, Grandmaster Melle Mel. The program highlighted the importance of both wellness and health care options for the community, regardless of income or documentation status.

Alexander Medina, GetCoveredNYC outreach director at the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, said at GetCoveredNYC, the team conducts outreach and case management to connect underinsured communities to health care in their neighborhoods and by speaking to them in their languages. “Our specialists are building a world in which no New Yorker goes uncovered for lack of knowledge or understanding, and events like this one are key to this work,” she said in part.

Her words were echoed by Dr. Jonathan Jiménez, executive director of NYC Care from NYC Health + Hospitals who said the fair was another way to demonstrate his department’s commitment to connecting all New Yorkers to high-quality health care. “Our community partners from across the five boroughs are available to answer questions about NYC Care, which is available regardless of immigration status or ability to pay,” he said in part before thanking all the event partners.

The BronxNet partnership featured a pop-up station in the middle of the event featuring one-on-one discussions with Dr. Bob Lee. Lee currently hosts the weekly live television program “Open,” which broadcasts on BronxNet TV, the multimedia public service network. The program features news and topics affecting the Bronx community and also treats viewers to new and established musical guests.

BronxNet provided the community with interactive VR fitness experiences at the fair, with Creatives Rebuild NY immersive media artist, Will Robert who teaches media arts classes and produces interactive content at BronxNet. BronxNet also set up a multimedia mobile studio for the community to host segments and participate in media making.

In response to the citywide blood emergency, the NY Blood Center hosted a blood drive through their mobile unit. This month, there is a $250 sweepstakes for anyone who gives blood with the NY Blood Center, and all participants at the event were entered to win.

A number of free health services and screenings were also offered on-site to attendees. COVID-19 Testing was offered via the Health + Hospitals Test & Treat mobile unit and MetroPlus was on-site with giveaways, face painting, and balloon animals. COVID-19, flu, and shingles vaccines were offered by Felicity Pharmacy. NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln offered free blood pressure screenings and other health screening resources, and African Services Committee offered HIV and Hepatitis B and C testing.

Event partners included:

• Acacia Network
• African Services Committee
• Arab-American Family Support Services (AAFSC)
• Be the Match
• Bridge Builders
• Bronx Documentary Center
• Bronx Works
• BronxNet
• CornellUniversity Cooperative Extension-N.Y.C-EFNEP
• Destination Tomorrow
• H+H: Test & Treat Corps
• Hispanic Federation
• Korean Community Services (KCS) – Public Health and Research Center (PHRC)
• MetroPlus
• NY Blood Center
• NY Psychotherapy & Counseling Center
• NYC Care
• NYC DOHMH- Environmental Health/Poison Center
• NYC DOHMH: Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• NYC DOHMH: Maternal, Infant & Reproductive Health
• NYC DOHMH: Morrisania Community Health Center/Bronx Neighborhood Network
• NYC DOHMH: Office of Health Insurance Services
• NYC Department of Aging
• NYC Department of Veteran Services (DVS)
• NYC Department of Workers (DWCP)
• NYC Department of HRA-Office of City Health Insurance Access (OCHIA)
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
• NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)
• NYC Small Business Services
• NYS of Health Marketplace
• Office of State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo
• Planned Parenthood
• Red de Pueblos
• Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), chair of the New York senate health committee, said of the event, “As we start this year’s National Minority Health Month, I am grateful to the NYC Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit and its partners for hosting this health care fair and connecting my neighbors to a variety of physical health screenings and other educational and government resources.” He added, “Ensuring Bronxites, who are primarily people of color, have access to quality healthcare providers is pivotal to the future of the Bronx communities we serve and to combat health disparities across our State.”

GetCoveredNYC provides free assistance for New Yorkers seeking to enroll in health care, regardless of immigration status or income. Specialists speak more than 20 languages and conduct outreach to proactively identify uninsured New Yorkers and help them get access to health care and other health-related benefits. For more information, visit nyc.gov/GetCoveredNYC, call 311 and say “Get Covered,” or text CoveredNYC to 877877.