Guantanamo Bay Health Fair Draws Hundreds

Photo By Dawn Grimes | Hospital Corpsman Second Class (HM2) Gabrielle Varalli, HM2 Juan Perez and HM3 and HN Anastasia Kinyua pose during a break of visitors to the blood pressure check table during the Health Fair at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Nov. 20.  

CUBA

11.20.2021

Story by Dawn Grimes 

Navy Medicine and Readiness Training Command Guantanamo Bay

US Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Guantanamo Bay (US NMRTC GB) along with Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) partners including Fleet and Family Services and Morale Welfare and Recreation Guantanamo Bay, hosted a Community Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, November 20.
The event drew residents from throughout the installation to visit and enjoy a wide variety of displays and activities including: blood pressure check; medical evacuation procedure information, alcohol impairment simulation; Women’s Health information and diet advice from US NMRTC GB nutrition experts.
“We’ve had quite a few people come by with questions about diet concerns and diabetes.” explained Lt. Daniel Williams, Medical Service Corps, US Navy, Head, Nutrition Management Department, US NMRTC GB.
“We’ve also had a lot of people asking about the Keto diet,” he continued. “It’s really popular. What people need to know, especially here, is that it can really sap electrolytes from your system and in this climate, as hot as it is, it may not be a problem,” Williams explained. “It’s good to have this opportunity to talk with people, most people aren’t going to come to my office and ask these questions so it’s great to get to be out here to get to hear people’s concerns and talk with them.”
Aviation Machinist Mate First Class Alberic Mareus, who is the installation’s Certified Navy Alcohol and Drug Counselor said this fair is different from others that he has been a part of. “The big difference here is that we’re an island and closed community, so everybody is confined to only the resources we have here.” Mareus said.
“Due to limited activities substance of alcohol is often involved in many activities so bringing awareness about the impact alcohol is important.” he explained. “Using a blood alcohol simulator like the one we have here today is really useful. People can experience the window of impairment and how it impacts their performance.”
More than 200 community members came to receive a free influenza vaccine that several Hospital Corpsmen administered to residents age 9 to 64. Others, like Althea Rickets didn’t plan to attend at all. “I was in the NEX doing my shopping. I didn’t know this was going on but here it is. I really wanted to learn more about the laboratory, and this is my chance to do it. I’m really enjoying it.”
Hospital Corpsman Alexis Orsini noted that the convenience of the fair is especially good for Dental. “People don’t always want to make that call or come into the dentist” he explained. “Just going about their day though, they can get the answers they want.” Orsini added, “People can come and talk directly to a person and ask about things like cleanings or to ask what they should do if they’re having a certain kind of pain or ‘hey can you guys treat me and what are sick call hours?’ In addition to easy information access, Dental table visitors were given a toothbrush and a travel-sized toothpaste.

HM2 Juan Perez, with the Primary Care Clinic, said he was really happy to take part in the event. Along with HM2 Gabrielle Varalli, Emergency Department, Perez administered blood pressure checks for many attendees. “We have a lot of people walking around with high blood pressure and not even realizing it.” Perez explained. “Blood pressure being the silent killer not only in America but all over the world it’s very important to identify it as soon as possible, so treatment is possible.”
Dozens of people stopped by the Physical Therapy booth to squeeze a device called a dynamometer that was used to assess grip strength. HM2 Demieli Wright explained that recent studies link grip strength to heart health.
The Harvard Study showed that an 11-pound decrease in grip strength correlated to a 16% higher risk of dying from any cause, a 17% higher risk of dying from heart disease, a 9% higher risk of stroke, and a 7% higher risk of heart attack. Wright added, “What’s also interesting out here is seeing what researchers have recently discovered. Wright explained, “The findings have recently been modified to account for millennials, because younger generations use their hands differently than in the 80’s when the link between grip strength and heart disease was made.”
In all, an estimated 300 community members came out for this year’s event. Hospital Corpsman Third Class Maurine Mutai led planning and coordination for the event for the second time.
“The atmosphere this year was really amazing. All the corpsman were so eager and excited to share their information of their specialties” Mutai said. “They were like, ‘YAY!’ This is what I do! ‘Do you want to try this?’ ‘This is breast cancer, do you need get your exam scheduled?’” Mutai added, “The Health Fair is a priority for our command leadership and having their support and support from base leadership, really contributed to the overall success of this year’s event.”

• Date Taken: 11.20.2021
• Date Posted: 11.24.2021 12:50
• Story ID: 410013
• Location: CU