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Friday, May 29th, 2009 [ versión español ]
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The Health Fair offered UPRM personnel with the opportunity to carry out tests, for example blood sugar. |
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Prevention.
This was the principal motive of the 9th Health Fair that was celebrated in the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) and was attended by more than 300 UPRM employees.
The activity, organized by the Office of Personnel Relations, the Dean’s Office of Administration, as well as the Department of Medical Services and the Department of Nursing, had the purpose of offering a free service to the University’s personnel, during work hours, to carry out screening and prevention tests of possible health conditions.
“We have to provide mental and physical health and the effort that all our employees deserve to be cared for. This is for two reasons, one because we have to watch out for the integrity in all aspects of a person, of our co-workers, and two because in offering preventative health it also helps us to be more efficient in the completion and in the service that we offer at the University,” stated José A. Frontera, Dean of Administration.
With that same idea in mind, the director of the Office of Personnel Relations, Lourdes Ayala, noted that the mental and physical health of employees doesn’t only guarantee their productivity but also a better working environment. She added that more than prevention, they offered them various alternatives for dealing with pre-existing conditions.
On this occasion the Department of Medical Services was in charge of the majority of the clinics, in which those in attendance went to in order to carry out tests on blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, sexually transmitted diseases, massages, and many more services.
“More than this we offered orientations on how to stop smoking, traffic security, family planning and this year we added orientation about the AH1N1 flu,” said the director of the Department of Medical Services, Rosie Torres de Calderón.
One of the most common aches of employees was related to muscular tensions, judged by the large number of participants who asked for chiropractic adjustments, offered by various professionals.
“The women that have participated have been in large part secretaries and all of them have neck problems, muscle spasms in the area of the trapezoids, which deal with posture. The men for the most part have come from problems in their lower backs. Those that have come work in construction, are plumbers, electricians, carry stairs and so on, this is normal in their line of work that they hurt their lower back, but that’s why the chiropractor is there so that they can continue to do their job well,” assured doctor Siro Gutiérrez, one of the chiropractors that participated in the event.
The fair, which took place in the Josefina Torres building also, counted on the collaboration of other entities such as Blue Cross of Puerto Rico, The Brotherhood of Non-teaching Exempt Employees and the UPRM Laborer’s Federation.
Vídeo Reportaje
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Participants visited various clinics such as the one to measure blood pressure.
Various employees went to chiropractic consultations.
Over 300 UPRM employees participated in the 9th Health Fair.
Doctor Siro Gutiérez explained that many workers ask for chiropractic adjustments for neck pain, muscle spasms in the trapezoids and the lower back.
Photographs by Carlos Díaz / UPRM Press
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