For many in WNC, access to affordable or low-cost health care is challenging, especially for communities where English is a second language.
This week’s Hispanic and Latino Health and Resource Fair hopes to help by bringing low-cost and affordable services to WNC communities.
Sue Hanlon, the public health nurse supervisor for Buncombe County, explained that the mobile health unit offers vaccines, testing, and other resources.
“We can do immunization reviews with people. We also try to link people with resources that are available through HHS and other community organizations,” Hanlonn said. “Our outreach is with other community organizations serving the historically underserved populations.”
Buncombe County Health and Human Resources is partnering with the YMCA, Mexican Consulate, Unete, and other organizations on the fair.
Hanlon explained that the pandemic showed that a lot of people don’t know what public health services are available. It also made the accessibility challenges more evident, as not everyone has access to downtown Asheville for services.
“Everyone deserves to be healthy,” Hanlon said. “Health starts with making sure that you have the protections you need to not acquire disease and spread disease and vaccines are the number one way to prevent disease from happening.”
The fair takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Reuter Family YMCA in South Asheville.
