Farmworkers to receive health screenings at Costa Layman Health Fair

Every summer, the Augusta University College of Nursing hosts an interdisciplinary student-run health fair providing free personalized and preventative health screenings, education and services to farmworkers in rural South Carolina. This outreach program brings together teams of expert health care providers to identify community health care needs and increase access to care.

On Friday, June 28, students will return to Costa Layman Farm in Trenton, South Carolina, for the 14th annual Costa Layman Health Fair. Over the years, the program has provided more than 5,000 screenings to migrant workers.

“This annual event means a lot to our institution since some of these workers have limited access to health care or have not seen a doctor since last year’s free physicals event,” said Dr. Pam Cromer, director of Costa Layman Outreach Programs and professor of biobehavioral nursing. “We will continue using this outreach program to bring together teams of expert health care providers to identify community health care needs and increase access to care.”

Augusta University student Humberto Garduno will be among the volunteers serving at this year’s health fair. As the son of Mexican immigrants and the first member of his family to go to college, Garduno knows firsthand the importance of bringing quality health care to underserved communities.

“I remember my family’s struggles, and having a chance to provide health care to an under-resourced group is one of the reasons why I enjoy volunteering at this health fair,” said Garduno, a health services major in the university’s College of Allied Health Sciences. “With most of the farm workers being Hispanic, I have such a deep connection with this event, and I always enjoy serving in various capacities, including being a translator or respiratory care.”

Cromer and Garduno will be among the participants available for media interviews from 8 to 9 a.m. at the event.

Hundreds of farm employees will have access to bilingual health information and screenings, including lab work; skin, vision, dental, respiratory, blood pressure, HIV and bone density screenings; nutrition counseling; and occupational and physical therapy.

In addition to students, faculty and alumni of the College of Nursing, screenings are supported by the university’s Medical College of Georgia, Dental College of Georgia, College of Allied Health Sciences, Institute of Public and Preventative Health, the Ryan White Program, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship and Recruitment Divisions, as well as local community leaders and volunteers.