AltaCair announces new date for Lasara Community Health Fair

5 days ago 31

RAYMONDVILLE, Texas – The AltaCair Foundation has rearranged the date of its Lasara Community Health Fair.

The event was to have been held March 28 but the severe flooding that hit the Rio Grande Valley late last week meant it had to be cancelled.

The new date is this Friday, April 4. The event is set to take place in the Lasara School Gym, opposite the community center. The address is 6276 6th Street, Raymondville, Texas. The event starts at 9:00 a.m. and finishes at 2:00 p.m.

Here is a flyer AltaCair produced for the fair:

Dr. Rashmi Chandran, president and CEO of AltaCair Foundation, says her group is thrilled to be hosting the health fair.

“This comprehensive event is a testimonial to the theory of change of AltaCair Foundation as we take a listening approach, we collaborate, we advocate and we serve as bridging capital,” Chandran said.

“We have worked very hard for the last year and half to create strategic partnerships with organizations from all sectors, not for profits, government based organizations, faith based organizations, for profit community centered businesses, educational institutions and hospital/ healthcare entities. We have connected and collaborated with over 100 organizations in this short timespan.”

Chandran continued: “We have also spent time working diligently on assessments and gap analysis of our rural RGV communities that are underserved and analyzed their pressing needs. We were able to collaborate with entities that serve the unique needs of each of these communities and were able to create a cross sectoral comprehensive framework to address access to education and health services, emergency preparedness, the correction of residential address to enable timely EMS access and focused diabetic screening along with screening on the comorbidities.”

Chandran pointed out that Willacy County has the highest percentage of mortality due to diabetic related complications.

“We were able to analyze the gap that was unfilled after this collaborative framework and were able to bridge the gap by providing kidney profile screenings. CBC and A1C screenings were the major lab services that were required. We were able to do so because of the generous support and grant provided by our special partner Quest Diagnostics,” Chandran said.

“Through this model we can take organizations who serve our RGV community to areas that are still underserved and foster these collaborative partnerships to serve the wholesome needs of rural communities. We also believe this is a strong step towards advocacy for communities like Lasara.”

Chandran said AltaCair will be providing a similar event continue in the San Carlos community later on this year. “We will continue to march towards our vision to have “A Healthy RGV” by addressing the unique needs of our rural communities,” Chandran said.

Here is a list of AltaCair’s partners and the services they will be providing at the Lasara event:

AltaCair foundation and Quest collaborative service – A1C, Lipid profile, CBC, kidney profile screenings;
UTRGV – glucose checks, blood pressure check, a diabetic education class;
CHN – specialty care education , education on telemedicine;
Driscoll – the promotion of a health plan, telemedicine, a car seat program, and a satellite clinic promotion in Harlingen;
Food Bank RGV – kids agriculture kits and A1C related education;
RGV 911 – correction of incorrect addresses;
Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council – emergency management education;
VTX 1 – a broadband campaign;
Texas A&M – a WIC program;
Willacy County – precinct commissioner services;
VIDA – educational support services;
DHR Health – liver screening education and awareness;
Prime Health Care – stroke assessment, strength screening and diabetic ulcer screening;
South Texas College – education on online programs;
KCP – two tables and four chairs