INSIDE

Health Matters

By Virginia Lester,
RN, MSN, ARNP

Friday night, September 16, the residents of Point Roberts held a Katrina Remembrance evening to honor the victims of this most devastating hurricane. It was an unusually beautiful evening with a sunset to remember. John Fisher was the master of ceremonies dressed in his Scottish kilt. Reverend Loreen delivered a very poignant sermon that touched us all. Music from the traditional New Orleans Jazz repertory was provided by Tony and Irene Slater and Karen Kalm including “Amazing Grace” as the finale.

Those people who gathered were indeed touched by the beauty and significance of the evening. The group was also given information regarding a Katrina Disaster Relief Fund that is being sponsored by the employees of Interfaith Community Health Center (ICHC). Donations to this fund will be targeted for assistance to the community health centers in Mississippi and Louisiana.

The Red Cross is an organization that meets disasters head on with immediate assistance to people in need. This fund is being directed specifically to community clinics, much like ICHC and our Point Roberts clinic, in the areas surrounding the disaster centers to provide ongoing health care to those people in need. As we all know, after the initial emphasis on emergency needs, health issues will require ongoing assistance.

Those clinics in surrounding cities that were not affected will be expected to pick up the slack and provide care for those in need for a long time to come. Contributions, large or small, will be a used to buy medicines, medical supplies and equipment. The identification of those community health centers needing support will be achieved through assistance from the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Primary Care Associations in Louisiana and Mississippi. One hundred percent of your donation will be forwarded to these health organizations.

If you were unable to attend this gathering and would like to contribute to the fund, please call the Aydon Wellness Clinic for information. Checks can be made out to “ICHC Katrina Disaster Relief Fund.” My personal thanks go out to all of the generous Point Roberts citizens who were in attendance and gave donations.

On a different note, flu season is upon us! We hope to have an adequate supply of vaccine this year by the middle of October. We already have the FluMist nasal spray that can be given to people five to 49 years of age. I urge you to have your immunization this year, especially if you missed it last year. If you did miss it you are at greater risk of having influenza. The health department is urging people to have the immunizations to protect their health and prevent spread of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year, between five and 20 percent of U.S. residents contract influenza. On average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for respiratory and heart related illnesses associated with influenza virus infections.

Please note: The Aydon Wellness Clinic will be closed Thursday, October 27. Instead the clinic will be open Monday, October 24.