Health Centers Offering Free Fairs

CompleteCare Health Network is marking National Health Center Week 2011, from Sunday through Saturday, with a series of health fairs as part of a weeklong campaign to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America's health centers as local solutions.

The week kicks off with Children's Health Day, an annual event sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez that provides free dental and vision screenings and immunizations to children. This year's Children's Health Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 9 at the CompleteCare Pediatric & Family Medical Professionals facility, 265 Irving Ave., Bridgeton. CompleteCare Medical & Dental Professionals in Millville, CompleteCare Medical & Dental Professionals in Vineland and CompleteCare Smile Center in Bridgeton will host additional health fairs during the week. A final community health fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, August 12  at the Bridgeton Farmer's Market on the Cohansey Riverfront, between Commerce Street and Route 49.

The health fairs will include screenings for high blood pressure and dental conditions, as well as free water ice provided by The Sweet Tooth in Vineland and face painting. Eligible attendees also will have the opportunity to sign up for the low- or no-cost health insurance program New Jersey FamilyCare.

Carlos Giralt, consul of Mexico, will be a guest at the open house scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at the CompleteCare Pediatric & Family Medical Professionals facility, 265 Irving Ave., Bridgeton.

The theme of this year's event is "Celebrating America's Health Centers: Serving Locally, Leading Nationally," to underscore how health centers deliver a unique approach that targets health needs and saves taxpayer dollars. They are strong partnerships of people, governments and communities who work together to meet the unique and diverse health conditions of the community. Although health centers rely on a portion of federal funding, they are not a bureaucracy. In fact, they are run from the bottom up, by a patient-majority governing board that guides how limited resources can be effectively directed to meet the health care needs of the community.

For National Health Center Week information, visit www.healthcenterweek.org.

For CompleteCare Health Network information, call (856) 451-4700.