Health and Wellness Fair Empowers Visitors

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (NNS) -- Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi (NHCCC) conducted its 9th Annual Community Health and Wellness Fair Oct. 25.

"Our goal was to increase health awareness, knowledge of self-care, and promote a healthy lifestyle and better-informed consumers in our community," said Dr. Samuel Rivera, department head, Wellness Center at NHCCC.

Visitors received firsthand advice about self-assessment from a cadre of more than 30 professionals in the areas of counseling, substance abuse prevention, behavioral health, fitness, parenting, social work, community referral and of course, health.

One health care professional, Hospitalman Ivan Ibarra assigned to NHCCC Occupational Health, instructed visitors about hearing protection.

"We provide hearing conservation methods in clinic by showing patients the proper use of devices that will increase their hearing protection," said Ibarra.

Ibarra held out a hard-shell carrying case containing combat arms military ear plugs developed for and currently used by NATO and the U.S. military.

"The yellow end of the earplug allows you to clearly hear voices without removing them, but restricts louder noises, protecting you instantly and continuously in variable noise and continuous noise environments," Ibarra told the onlookers. He explained that the other end of the earplug is recommended for constantly noisy environments such as military transport and helicopters.

Representatives from the Fleet Family Support Center, the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, TriCare, the United Services Organization, Chaplain Services, 211 Texas and the base Morale, Welfare and Recreation department, also greeted visitors with useful information.

The three-hour fair attracted more than 200 visitors to 19 information kiosks, according to Rivera who teaches self-care practices.

"It was a successful fair and a good opportunity for visitors to feel empowered, encouraged and reassured," said Rivera.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.