Health is Wealth!!!

HEALTH IS WEALTH

I believe this is a time for sober reflection

A time to rethink the way we embrace healthcare

Going by what is going on with the Corona Virus pandemic, there are many lessons to be learnt

Number one big lesson is recognizing the importance of primary Healthcare

For those of us who have not been good at following the numerous guidelines and utilizing the available resources for primary prevention and early recognition of diseases. This is the time to change

For example,

The guideline advised that at the latest 50 years of age, individuals should have a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer. Even, recently the age to start screening for people of African descent was reduced to 45 years.  The question is, how many people >50 years in this group have followed this guideline. Colorectal cancer has been named the second leading cause of death in the United States. The experts have also said that the mortality and morbidity rates reduce with early recognition and treatment.

If you have not done so, Please make your health a priority, other things can wait.

These are what you could do!!

1.      Get yourself and family a primary care provider to provide and monitor your health needs

2.      Keep up with required immunizations

3.      Keep up with your health screenings

4.      Exercise and eat healthy foods

5.      Avoiding substances such as, alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, these could be detrimental to your health or could worsen preexisting chronic health conditions

All these could be accomplished whether you are documented or undocumented, have health insurance or not, rich or poor, a chief, high chief or an ordinary mortal

Below are some of the resources available in different counties

Wake County

 Advance community Care

1101 Rock Quarry Road

Raleigh NC 27616

Phone: 919-833-3111

They are accepting new patient and could see you by Telephonic Health or Telehealth video

Durham County

Lincoln Community Health Center, Durham, NC

1301 Fayetteville St.

PO Box 52119

Durham, North Carolina 27717-2119

919-956-4000

CAARE Clinic Durham(Dental care)

214 Broadway St, Durham NC 27001

919-683-5300

 Alamance County

Open Door Clinic

N. Graham Hopedale Road

Burlington NC 27217

Phone 336-570-9800

 

Wayne County

WATCH Mobile Medical Unit

2700 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro NC

Phone: (919) 222-4450

 

GUILFORD COUNTY

Mustard Seed

336-763-0814

Asheboro

Mercy Clinic

336-672-1300

 

These are just examples. Most are federally funded facilities and are available in many counties in North Carolina

No matter which county you live in, there are free clinics where you can register as a patient and be assigned to a provider

Registering in these clinics will also give you access to specialty doctors and services through for example UNC Charity Care. The referral coordinator will connect you to specialty services

You can also get free or subsidized medications and payment for services through a sliding scale; if you qualify

Please utilize these opportunities, this could save your life and help you fair better in a pandemic such as covid-19

HEALTH IS WEALTH

Dr Rosedelia Okoro DNP MSN(Ed) AGNP-BC RN

Dr Chioma Iloabachie DVN MSN AGNP-C RN

For Nigeria Nurses Association North Carolina