Texas A&M McAllen students to host Women’s Health Fair

This photo shows a women’s health fair hosted by the students in April. (Courtesy: Texas A&M)

A student group from the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen is set to lead a Women’s Health Fair in San Juan on Saturday where attendees can expect free health screenings, flu shots, educational presentations and learn about community resources.

The student group is part of a course called Project Management in Public Health led by Instructional Assistant Professor Krystal Flores.

The event is at the P2 Community Resource Center at 509 E. Earling Rd. in San Juan and is from 10 a.m. to noon.

“The Women’s Health Fair was predominantly developed by students in my undergraduate project management in public health course,” Flores said. “They worked hand-in-hand with the Texas A&M University Colonias Program and the House of Love and Justice … students met with stakeholders and constructed their overall project based on community identified needs.”

The Texas A&M University Colonias Program aims to help increase self sufficiency and quality of life for colonia residents along the Texas-Mexico border.

The House of Love and Justice is an organization dedicated to empower families and transform colonias along the border.

Organizations attending include Access Esperanza Clinics, the Hidalgo County Health Department, Healthy Futures of Texas and Mujeres Unidas.

“We’re not solely tracking one women’s health issue but rather looking at different resources that are available for women and young girls that can be utilized,” she said. “Just getting information about all of the resources that folks can utilize in the Valley, sometimes is very difficult to identify organizations that individuals can receive a low cost service. So, this is one way that students are able to connect residents with the services.”

The projects are made possible through a $5,000 High Impact Teaching Grant for the course which was split between two teams for each project.

“They’re going to be learning project management skills, project development skills, leadership skills,” Flores said. “They’re learning how to work within a team, conflict resolution. But one of the most important skills that they get to learn is communication skills.

“Being able to have conversations with community stakeholders, community organizations in the Valley, and hopefully building bonds with these stakeholders so that they can continue to do this work long term, that it’s not solely a small project that they complete as an undergraduate student.”

The event is tailored toward colonia residents and the medically under served, but is open for anyone to attend.

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