Beloved community health fair returns to Yakima
August 2023 marked the successful return of Fiesta de Salud after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MultiCare Yakima Memorial and Memorial Foundation pioneered this community health fair in 2007 as a way to provide valuable health screenings to those in the Yakima area who experience challenges accessing health care, such as lack of insurance or language barriers. Over the years, Fiesta de Salud has grown into Central Washington’s largest health fair.
More than 4,000 people attended this year’s event at the downtown Yakima Rotary marketplace, with most participants coming from Latino, Native American and Black communities, as well as other communities of color.
In addition to live music and family-oriented activities, participants received free preventive services and educational resources.
Highlights from the event:
• More than 1,300 free health screenings given — including screenings for diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure
• More than 500 backpacks full of school supplies distributed to students in need
• Nearly 40 free haircuts provided to kids
More than just a gathering, Fiesta de Salud has been a catalyst for positive change. Many participants who received screenings shared that they had not visited a doctor since before the pandemic. Fifty-two percent of health screening participants reported not having medical coverage at all, and 43 percent did not have a primary care provider.
Following the screenings, participants had the opportunity to meet with clinicians to discuss their results and next steps to support their health.
While Yakima Memorial and Memorial Foundation were the primary organizers of this event, it is a true community effort. More than 65 local organizations and businesses sponsored booths.
Efforts are underway to bring Fiesta de Salud to four other counties in the Central Washington region.