MEDIA RELEASE

WE … a hui for health, a program created in 2011 and based on Hawaii values and local relationships, will be in 16 Big Island communities over the next month to give island residents greater access to health screenings and information to help them understand their role in improving their own health.

WE events on the Big Island are made possible through the financial and materials support of many different health-related advocacy groups, government agencies, native Hawaiian health organizations, Ohana Health Plan, Young Brothers and the Lions Clubs across Hawaii, all working together to provide these free health screening events.

Events are set for the following locations and dates:

* Kealakekua Ranch Shopping Center (near Choice Mart), Sunday, Aug. 26

Full WE, including Vision Van, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Vision Van ONLY, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

* Ocean View Farmers Market, Saturday, Sept. 1

Full WE, including Vision Van, 8 a.m.– Noon

* Ka’u Resource and Distance Learning Center, Saturday, Sept. 1

Full WE, including Vision Van, 2–6 p.m.

* Makuu Market, Pahoa, Sunday, Sept. 2

Full WE, including Vision Van, 7 a.m.–Noon

* Hilo Bandstand, Friday, Sept. 7

Full WE, including Vision Van, 8-11 a.m.

* Hilo Life Care Center, Saturday, Sept. 8

Full WE, including Vision Van, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

* Hilo Wal-Mart , Sunday, Sept. 9

Full WE, including Vision Van, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

* Hawai`i County Fair, Hilo, Thursday, Sept. 13

Vision Van ONLY, 6-10 p.m.

* North Hawaii Education and Research Center, Friday, Sept. 14

Full WE, including Vision Van, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Vision Van ONLY, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

* North Hawaii Community Hospital, Waimea , Saturday, Sept. 15

Full WE, including Vision Van, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Vision Van ONLY, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

* Waikoloa Shopping Center, Sunday, Sept. 16

Full WE, including Vision Van, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Vision Van ONLY, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

* Hawi Banyan Tree, Tuesday, Sept. 18

Vision Van ONLY, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

* Honokaa Gym, Saturday, Sept. 22

Vision Van ONLY, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

* Parker Ranch Center, Waimea , Sunday, Sept. 23

Vision Van ONLY, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Young Brothers is providing free inter-island shipping of the Project Vision Hawaii vision van, thereby making these health screening events possible.

Other community partners who have made these special free programs possible include Hamakua Health Center, North Hawaii Community Hospital, Hui Malama Ola Oiwi, the Department of Health office on the Big Island, Ka‘u Resource and Distance Learning Center, Ka‘u Hospital, Life Care Center, and many others.

Screenings WE provides include:

* Retinal Screening on the Vision Van (Project Vision Hawaii, Lions Clubs of District 50 Lions Clubs International and numerous Optometrists and Ophthalmologists on every island)

* Lung Function Testing – Spirometry – (Hawaii COPD Coalition)
Glucose and Blood Pressure Testing (American Diabetes Association, Entra Health Systems Ohana Health Plan)
Take-Home Kidney Function Test (National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii)

* Women’s Health and Breast Self-Examination training and Information (The Queen’s Medical Center, Women’s Health and Maternity Services)

* Hepatitis Risk Assessment and Screening and Safe Tattoo Practices information (Hepatitis Support Network)

* Hearing Testing and Learning Disabilities Information (Learning Disabilities Association of Hawaii)

* Smoking Cessation Counseling (America Lung Association)
Family Caregiver Counseling (The Caregiver Foundation of America, Hawaii Chapter)

* Organ Donor Counseling (Legacy of Life Hawaii)
Mental Health Information, Peer Education, and Resource Publications (Community Alliance for Mental Health)

Free Community Health Screenings

* Cancer – Issues with the diagnosis and treatment of Cancer (‘Imi Hale of Papa Ola Lokahi)

* Medicare Education and assistance (Sage PLUS, Executive Office on Aging, Department of Health, State of Hawaii)

* The Department of Health is also offering information on Disaster Preparedness – “Plan 9” for sheltering in place provides a guide to help residents shelter-in-place in the event of an emergency.

For healthier eating habits, the DOH has Hawaii 5-2-1-0 providing simple steps to healthy lifestyles for children and families.

Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi, Native Hawaiian Health Care for Hawaii Island, will be providing nutrition education and tobacco cessation awareness education and displays.

Throughout 2012, “WE… a hui for Health” will offer 50 individual days of screening, including many held on Hawaiian Homelands. WE will cover all six major Hawaiian Islands, providing services to at least 8,000 individuals in lower-income, rural areas of the state, and areas without sufficient medical resources.