USNH Guam Health Fair Educates Community, Families

By Shaina Marie Santos, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Service members, civilians and families learned about several health subjects during a health fair at the Charles King Fitness Center (CKFC) on U.S. Naval Base Guam April 14.

The event was sponsored by U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Guam, CKFC, Navy Exchange Guam, the American Red Cross, Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), and Airman and Family Readiness Center (AFRC). The fair included learning stations, fitness demonstrations, a food demo and giveaways.

Luis Martinez, USNH head of health promotion, said the emphasis of the fair was maintaining a healthy lifestyle that can also prevent some health issues.

"The family health fair is our effort to get the word out to our beneficiaries about the importance of health promotion, prevention and wellness," he said. "The truth is, the vast majorities of diseases we suffer from can be prevented. So the emphasis today [is] on all of those things that we can do as well as some of the things we shouldn't be doing is just live better, be healthier, live longer, be happier."

USNH Guam Nurse Manager Lt. Serena Darity echoed Martinez' sentiments and added the need to concentrate on family health as previous fairs were focused specifically on women's health.

"We had a women's health symposium back in October of last year and realized that after talking about the event that we really needed to get the rest of the families involved to talk about what keeps family healthy and talk about preventative measures," she said. "It's important to get the family involved in learning about their health."

Darity said the fitness demonstrations were designed to encourage patrons to add new elements to their fitness routines.

"Maybe we can bring a different routine into their schedule for eating healthy, and doing things healthy and getting together as a family and doing healthy things," she said.

36th Medical Group Airman 1st Class Casey Kosbiel manned the women's health booth.

"Everyone seems really interested," she said. "Everybody knows about breast exams, but nobody really knows what they're looking for. We have models; you can come and feel the [breast] lumps."

Kosbiel said she enjoyed the atmosphere of the fair.

"Everybody's really welcoming and fun," she said. "[Presenters] try to incorporate games into [presentations] so everybody gets interested and for the kids, there's little given away stuff."

Guam Corpsmen Hold Bone Marrow Registry Drive

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gabrielle Blake, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

POLARIS POINT, Guam (NNS) -- Hospital corpsmen assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, held a Bone Marrow Registry Drive at Polaris Point Jan. 3-4.

The purpose of the drive was to disseminate information about the new process of collecting bone marrow.

"We are trying to get rid of that stigma of pain," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Rebecca Jones, assigned to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam. "Most people know about the old, painful method with the giant needle. This new process is not as bad. It is just like donating a unit of blood."

The drive was held across the Department of Defense (DoD) allowing Sailors and anyone who is DoD sponsored and between the age of 18 and 60 to be placed into the registry. Donors filled out personal information and gave cheek swab samples.

Jones said everyone who is able to enter the registry, should.

"You could be in the registry and never get called up or you can get called up and once they do a little bit more testing, you may not be a match," said Jones.

"Finding a match is hard," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Edgardo Victorino, assigned to Frank Cable, "So the more people who register, the more selections there are for them to pick out someone compatible."

During the drive, the corpsmen explained the benefits of being a bone marrow donor.

"You never know who will need it some day, said Victorino. "It could be your wife or child. It's an opportunity to save someone's life."

"The people you are donating to are dying so you are giving somebody a second chance at life that they would never have," said Jones. "If you really think about it, it is two weeks of a little bit of discomfort for you and a whole lifetime for that person you are donating to."

Frank Cable is being temporarily relieved by USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) as the primary afloat maintenance activity in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.