craigdailypress.com

The 9News Health Fair has been teaching Moffat County residents about themselves for a quarter of a century.

The lessons could be high cholesterol, soaring blood pressure, failing vision or poor oral heath. The health fair offers any number of screenings of health-related problems and provides an easy and accessible way for residents to get important health checks.

"We've caught (cancerous) lumps and find cases of oral cancer every year," said Alice Rigney, a coordinator of the event. "It's sad, but I think it's why we do it. It's really important in our community to offer something that is low-cost like this."

Nearly 450 residents attended the health fair Saturday, waiting for services in long lines that wove throughout classrooms at Sunset Elementary School.

Participants took advantage of the wide array of screenings.

Volunteer health care workers, nursing students and others staffed booths and offered advice on healthier living.

Television station 9News of Denver has backed health fairs around the state during the spring for the past 25 years. The Craig Lions Club organizes volunteers for the event. A total of 70 volunteers, including other local service organization members, donated their time, Rigney said.

Pat Kime comes to the fair regularly.

"I usually can't afford to go the doctor to have all this done," she said while getting her blood drawn. "I've only missed this fair three or four years for all the years they've had it."

Blood tests, which screen participants for cancers and other internal imbalances, were offered at about one- third of the cost of regular doctor visits, said one health care worker. Prices for the most expensive blood tests were capped at $30.

Mental health exams, breast exams, vision screenings and oral exams were offered free.

Nursing student Jodie Dean of the Colorado Northwestern Community College appreciated the chance to practice checking blood pressure.

"This is the first time I've worked at one of these," she said. "It's good practice for me. I think it's a good avenue for people to get their basic health care needs so they can really get checked out if they need to."

Volunteer Kate Peroulis has staffed the registration table since the first fair. An average of 300 people a year take advantage of the event, she said, but the past couple years have proven even more popular. Another health fair was offered at Sunset Meadows retirement community earlier in the week to cover the needs of the county's senior population.

"It makes a healthier community when we all can find out what we're dealing with," Peroulis said.

Some people who have health insurance aren't covered under regular wellness visits, Rigney said.

The event can take the edge off the high costs of uninsured visits but is not a replacement for routine medical care, Rigney said.