More than 1,500 residents avail of St. Vincent’s free health care services
WW II veteran Pedro Morante prepares to receive a flu shot from nurse Marinell Sebastian. Photos by Tet Valdez.
World War II Veteran Pedro Morante of Dagupan has always looked forward each year to the mobile units coming to his Los Angeles neighborhood where he gets free flu shot, glaucoma and cholesterol screenings; hearing test among other health tests.
At 83, the Eastern Central Luzon former guerrilla has had enough lines he’s been to – following up on social security benefits not to mention waiting for his $15,000 lump sum veterans’ remunerations just like a few hundred colleagues who fought the war with the U.S.
“I wait eagerly for this event each year – it’s convenient, the volunteers are helpful and most of all, the services are free,” Ramirez beamed.
“This is the least we can do for our communities around L.A.,” said Pedro Ramirez, director of St. Vincent’s Multicultural Health Awareness and Prevention Center.
At the health fair held September 27 within the perimeter of the first hospital in the city, St. Vincent’s Medical Center, more than 1,500 mostly low-income immigrants came to avail of the free services.
The hospital was established in 1856 by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul as the first hospital in Los Angeles. Ramirez became its first Filipino American director since 2002 for its Health Awareness Program servicing a diversity of ethnicities from Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, among others. Linking up with the various consulates of these countries was a strategic approach to reaching the various communities in L.A. numbering more than a million.
Tony A., of the Affordable Care Act program (Obama Care) was pleased to have registered more than 200 persons seeking information about Covered CA. Enlisting clients outside his organization’s mobile unit, Tony said the first services they offered were glaucoma tests and blood pressure and glucose screening. From there, those seeking health coverages were identified and would be assisted with their applications, whatever their legal status in the country.
“It’s not part our job to distinguish who have legal papers to stay in the U.S.,” said the care provider.
The roster of medical/clinical providers included 99 My Teeth Group, Asian Pacific Liver Center, CA Health Collaborative, LA County Women’s Health, Queens Care Family Clinics, Breath LA, Eainer Pediatric Medical Center, Braille Institute, One Legacy, South Baylo university, Philippine Medical Association, USC School of Dentistry, University of the East Medical Mission, LA Care Health Plan, Women’s Breast, Susan G. Komen, Montclair Ultrasound, Lions Club Mobile Unit, St. Francis Medical Center, and T.H.E. Clinic Mobile Unit.
St. Vincent’s Medical Center MHAP Director Pedro Ramirez (center) coordinates the day’s multi- health services for L.A.’s immigrant communities. Volunteers from more than 25 health providers provided assistance.
