According to the most recent figures available from the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 45 million Americans – including 9 million children – are uninsured.  In order to shine a national spotlight on the need to secure health coverage for all Americans, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has announced the fifth year of Cover the Uninsured Week.

This year, the Week will focus on the importance of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in providing coverage for América’s kids.

For the past four years, one of the signature Cover the Uninsured Week events in Denver has been a health and enrollment fair for Colorado’s uninsured population. This year’s fair, scheduled for Wednesday, April 25 at the Church in the City (1530 Josephine), is expected to draw more than 300 uninsured adults and children who will receive free health screenings and clinic referrals and have the opportunity to enroll in health coverage programs.  

The fair will feature screenings for cholesterol (required to fast for eight hours and drink water), diabetes glucose, blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, clinical breast exams and mammography, lead levels (kids under the age of 6 and pregnant women), immunizations (bring child’s shot records), vision, TB, body mass index (BMI), depression, asthma, and podiatry.  Dental screenings will also be provided.  Educational sessions will be held on the topics of home health care, durable medical equipment, breast self exams, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and fitness, Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus, and men’s health, as well as the American Lung Association, the Share Program, and Keep Me Safe.  For more information, call 303/837-7100.

A complete listing of events in Denver and around the country is available at www.CoverTheUninsured.org/events.