Today one of the groups I oversee is sponsoring a health fair for refugee populations. We expect around 500 refugees and will provide health services such as blood pressure, glucose, vision, dental, hearing, and STD screenings as well as free flu shots. We also have free glasses and glasses cases. There are educational booths on poison control, sun safety, developmental milestones, insurance attainment, tobacco cessation, immunization schedules, and many more.
I am so proud to work with the amazing individuals who have planned and coordinated the event. And I'm even more proud of the message this can send... "To those of you fleeing from persecution, we welcome you to Omaha." The first wave of Syrian refugees have begun to come to Omaha and certainly that will change the programming/services we provide for our biennial health fairs, bi-monthly health education sessions, and mentoring sessions with refugee youth--we tailor our programming/services to the needs of the specific refugee community. I think it's an important reminder that those who are committing these acts of terror are the exact same people that refugees are fleeing from. And we can become the safe haven for those refugees to finally feel some semblance of safety in their lives after years (and sometimes decades) of unrest.
Today truly I am proud to be part of Omaha.
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