Health
The Health Program of the NC Farmworkers Project is a program that helps farmworkers and their families have access to the health services that they need. We work with the Benson Area Medical Center (BAMC) to serve farmworkers in the area. BAMC stays open late one night a week during the agricultural season and reserves appointments solely for farmworkers so that they can attend after finishing work. The Health Program staff at the Farmworkers’ Project normally does outreach to farmworker camps two to three nights a week to inform workers of clinic services, perform a basic health assessment including blood pressure and weight, and educate workers about various health topics. On clinic nights, we provide transportation to workers who are unable to come to the clinic by themselves, and we help clinic staff interpret as necessary. We follow up with workers after appointments and ensure that they receive the medicines that they need, and help them with transportation and interpretation to specialist appointments if necessary. Some of the health themes on which we do presentations in camps include green tobacco sickness, heat illness, pesticide safety, and sexually transmitted diseases.
In 2008, we performed basic health assessments on 675 farmworkers in more than 60 camps in Johnston, Harnett, and Sampson counties. We saw 221 patients in our 22 summer clinics, and provided transportation and other resources to several hundred additional workers and their families.
Update from Janeth Tapia: Promotora (Lay Health Leader) Program
The promotoras finished their first season of work with participants and currently are in the middle of their second season. Up to this point, the promotoras have recruited 467 families out of the goal of 600 and plan to finish this year in the summer. During this time, Janeth has been travelling to different locations to follow up with the promotoras. The promotoras received three trainings, one together and two individually.