Free Health Screenings Start Friday

By Léo Azambuja

Preventive health-care is priceless. Now imagine it being free. You got it.

Starting this Friday, Kaua‘i residents will be able to take advantage of a series of health screenings over the course of nine days across the island.

WE . . . a hui for health / Project Vision Hawai‘i will bring a series of nine free health-screening events on Kaua‘i from May 9 through May 18.

Health screenings of up to an hour long, may include retinal (eye/vision) testing; blood-pressure screening; Caregiver Foundation memory testing and counseling; help in starting MedQUEST applications; counseling on smoking cessation and safe tattooing; Community Alliance for Mental Health counseling for issues, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

By using state-of-the-art equipment to create digital images of the retina within a matter of minutes, without the use of dilating drops, health screeners are able to detect diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and high blood pressure changes, before vision loss is noticeable.

The free health screenings seek to prevent blindness and to improve access to all health care.

Additionally, one-on-one education and/or materials may involve retinal (diabetes) screening; Hepatitis Support Network; Legacy of Life Hawai‘i (organ/tissue donors); National Kidney Foundation; Queen’s Medical Center Women’s Center (women’s health); Senior Medicare Patrol (Medicare anti-fraud), State Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (anti-scams); ‘Ohana Health Plan; and the Hawai‘i Health Connector.

Since 2007, Project Vision Hawai‘i has provided more than 400 screening events to communities throughout the state of Hawai‘i, touching more than 30,000 lives with health education and/or screening opportunities.

More than 200 medical professionals have participated in the project since its first year, and more than 10,000 individuals have received free retinal screenings.

From 2007 to 2013, the $500,000 in funding used in the annual events have translated into more than $3 million in free services to communities statewide.

Project Vision Hawai‘i is also partnering with the Hawai‘i Health Connector — Hawai‘i’s online health-insurance marketplace to comply with the federal Affordable Care Act.

WE… a hui for health is a consortium of parties who provide health screenings and wellness education to individuals at malls, churches, community centers and similar venues statewide.

WE and Project Vision Hawai‘i share the mission to help Hawai‘i envision and achieve a better help, concentrating efforts on those with difficult access to care due to issues caused such as geography, cost and attitude.

Go to projectvisionhawaii.com for more information

Project Vision Hawai‘i schedule

• Friday, May 9, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Princeville Shopping Center parking lot 5-4280 Kuhio Hwy, Princeville
• Saturday, May 10, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Kilauea Farmers Market at the Kaua‘i Miniature Golf Course, 5-2723 Kuhio Highway, Kilauea.
• Monday, May 12, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.— OPMC Sun Village Senior Resource & Health Expo, Sun Village, 3-3400 Kuhio Hwy, Lihue (directly behind Wilcox Memorial Hospital).
• Monday, May 12, 3 to 7 p.m. — Kapa‘a Big Save (by the post office parking lot), 1105 Kuhio Hwy, Kapa‘a.
• Tuesday, May 13, 4 to 6 p.m.— Lihu‘e Salvation Army Corps Community Center, 4182 Hardy St, Lihue.
• Thursday, May 15, 9 a.m to 1 p.m. — Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital parking lot, 4643 Waimea Canyon Dr., Waimea.
• Friday, May 16, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Hanapepe Salvation Army Corps Community Center, 4465 Puolo Rd, Hanapepe.
• Saturday, May 17, 9:30 a.m to 1 p.m. — Farmers Market at the Kaua‘i Community College, Parking Lot, 3-1901 Kaumuali‘i Hwy, Lihu‘e.
• Sunday, May 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital parking lot, 4800 Kawaihau Rd, Kapa‘a.