Cigarroa Clinic, Gateway partner for Laredo health fair

The first Do Your Part, Care For Your Heart Health Fair was held Saturday, Feb. 25 through a partnership between the Cigarroa Clinic and the Gateway Community Health Center along with the participation of several vendors.

“Gateway Community Health Center is thrilled to partner with the Cigarroa Clinic to give back to our community through this health fair,” Gateway Community Health Center CEO Elmo Lopez Jr. said. “There’s a tremendous need for health care services in west Laredo, and events like this give the public a chance to take control of their health, create access to healthcare, and ultimately push our message of prevention.”

Through its large assortment of health care vendors participating, the fair offered a wide variety of activities and giveaways including free health screenings, healthy cooking lessons, vaccines, tests, exercise lessons, giveaways, haircuts and more.

The fair was held from 8-11 a.m. in the lot at 1702 Lafayette Street next to the Lafayette bridge. It was free and open to the public.

“With the prevalence of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity among the Hispanic population, the Cigarroa Clinic is going mobile offering complimentary life-saving screenings,” said Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa, Interventional Cardiologist. “Together with Gateway Community Health Center, we are taking our cardiology services to west Laredo to provide residents there with not only quality healthcare, but important information on heart disease and other illnesses that can help them better care for themselves and their families.”

The screenings offered by the Cigarroa Clinic included ones for Peripheral Artery Disease. Gateway Community Health Center offered blood pressure checks, the A1C test, health and wellness screenings, COVID-19 tests, vaccines and dental screenings.

Other participating vendors and the services offered included the following:

AHEC gave out information on health programs for high school and college students along with details about COVID-19, hepatitis C and mental health awareness.
The Barber Education Academy attend the fair to provide free haircuts.
The City of Laredo Health Department hosted a one-hour Zumba and provided information about COVID-19, diabetes, environmental health, and maternal and child health. The City of Laredo Health Living Program performed blood pressure and glucose screenings.
Caffe Dolce provided a community cooking class centered around healthy eating.
The Frontera Grocery Co-op provided information about its community-owned grocery cooperative.
Laredo College’s PTA Program conducted pulse checks and gave information about aerobic exercises, and its EMS program distributed information.
Laredo Stroke Support distributed educational materials regarding strokes.
The LMC Open Heart Program provided blood pressure and O2 oximetry checks and educated about healthy living, the latest blood pressure standard, and risk factors for coronary artery disease.
LNF Distributors donated beverages.
Mercy Ministries of Laredo conducted blood pressure checks and gave out information about Casa de Misericordia, the Mercy Clinic, heart disease and nutrition.
Optometrist Rochelle Mota conducted vision screenings and gave referrals.
Rooted provided samples and sold juices.
SCAN and Project H.O.P.E.S. donated gift baskets and goodie bags to raffle to fair participants. SCAN also provided information about reducing the risk of harm related to substance use and about seeking to initiate substance use treatment services.