Community’s health becomes
focus for Freehold groups
By dick metzgar
Staff Writer
Julius Ramsey
A program to promote good health and prevent disease in the Freehold area has been initiated by two organizations — the CentraState Health Awareness Center in Freehold Township and the Freehold Chapter of the NAACP.
A target of the program will be new immigrants to the area, many of whom are believed to be in the United States illegally, according to Julius Ramsey, founder and past president of the Freehold Chapter of the NAACP.
The two organizations conducted the first Freehold Community Health Fair on Sept. 28 at the Second Baptist Church, Throckmorton Street, Freehold Borough.
Ramsey estimated that between 40 to 45 Mexican immigrants attended the health fair, along with about 100 other people. The health fair included representatives from various health organizations and civic groups.
"This program will be good for the entire community," Ramsey said. "We are not only trying to protect the health of people who do not have the means to do so themselves, but we are trying to promote the health of the entire community by preventing such contagious diseases as tuberculosis and even typhoid fever."
Much was accomplished at the first health fair of the program, according to Maryann Roper, director of the CentraState Health Awareness Center.
"It is important that everyone has access to health care," Roper said. "Through the fair, we reached people in the population that have had little or no access to health care and (have) no health insurance. One gentleman who came to the fair said he had not been to a physician in 15 years. I suspect that some of the immigrants have never been to a doctor."
Many health groups participated in the fair, Roper said, including some personnel from CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.
There were blood pressure tests given, hearing and vision tests, diabetes screening, nutrition information provided, demonstrations on how to prevent choking, and information on how to prevent cancer, among other health services provided during the four-hour fair, Roper said.
Among the organizations represented were the American Cancer Society, the St. Rose of Lima parish nurses, the Freehold Community Alliance for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the Hometown Medical Center, headed by Dr. Kenneth Faistl.
Student nurses from Rutgers Univer-sity, New Brunswick, participated in the screening and testing, Roper said.
"There were even recruiters from CentraState Medical Center present seeking people for possible employment," she said.
Roper said more fairs will be planned, along with health lectures and other programs designed to improve the quality of health in the community.
Among those who have been most supportive of the new program has been John T. Gribbin, president and chief executive officer of the CentraState Health-care System, Roper said.
"He has done everything he possibly can to help make this program a success," she said.
"It is important that as many people as possible get involved with the program in the future," said Janet Sweeney, acting secretary of the local chapter of the NAACP. "This program is for the benefit of everyone. We are trying to go out into the community to help the people who would never go to a hospital on their own. We hope to reach these people through the various local churches and places such as the Court Street School Education and Community Center."