Health fair to educate residents

Ryan Lengerich

Dan Otero, a physician assistant at Trinity Family Medicine, said Clovis is an average city that can do much better in terms of health.

“We want people to be able to brag about the health of Clovis and want to live here,” Otero said. “To our community it is vital to make sure our city stays healthy.”

Trinity, a family medicine and prevention business treating diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol-related illnesses is one of more than 50 groups to be represented at Saturday’s Health Fair hosted by the Clovis News Journal.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of 21st Street and Prince Street next to The Master’s Books & Gifts. There is no charge for admission and the United Blood Services “Bloodmobile” will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Door prizes will also be given away.

Holly Glenn, Marketing and Event Coordinator for the News Journal, said among the activities are child fingerprinting, car seat safety checks, eye screening and diabetes testing.

“The nice thing about this event is that we are going to bring out a wide audience,” Glenn said. “There will be a little bit for everyone to partake in.”

Otero said Trinity representatives will offer blood pressure and blood sugar readings.

“Our American diet and sedentary life bring about major problems,” Otero said. “I think Americans and people in this region are very smart. Once they have the information they can make the changes.”

Troy Reden, owner of CDS Clovis, a business specializing in preventive services, said he will give free ultrasounds and project the images onto a wall for explanation.

Ultrasound images of arteries allow Reden to get an idea if a person is a candidate for a heart attack. He said up to 60 percent of all heart attacks are preventable.

“We allow people to come in prior to a heart attack and counsel them,” Reden said. “A lot of people just don’t want to know.”

Low cholesterol and blood pressure does not necessarily mean a person is not vulnerable to heart ailments, Reden said.