RASA, a local Latino non-profit organization, has declared July as Hispanic Health Month and is hosting their second health fair, ‘Feria de Salud,’ on July 14th. The goal of the event is to improve the quality of life for Latinos in northwest Louisiana. The organization aims to combat healthcare disparities by providing free and accessible healthcare services with bilingual providers.
According to RASA Executive Director Mario Villafuerte, the Latino population often does not seek out healthcare services due to lack of insurance or language barriers. RASA hopes to connect the Latino community to free healthcare services without the need for insurance or identification. Services offered at the event include glucose testing, cholesterol screenings, blood pressure checks, nutrition information, body mass index assessments, and more.
The health fair will take place at the Highland Center in Shreveport from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Villafuerte describes the event as the biggest Latino healthcare event in the region and encourages the community to attend to “raise the quality of life.” The event will feature healthcare providers from organizations such as St. Luke’s mobile ministry, LSU Health Shreveport, The Martin Luther King Health Clinic, The Highland Center, Northwestern State University School of Nursing, and The NSW Spanish Club. In addition to free healthcare services, the event will also offer free school supplies, door prizes, and more.