Source: New Jersey Patch
Health Camp of New Jersey (HCNJ), well known for providing free comprehensive health screening to over 12,500 individuals since 1998, announces plans to open a Community Health Center in New Jersey by 2026. The new center will provide primary health care services and timely post screening follow-up, additional diagnostic testing and periodic check-ups for medical, dental, eye, mental health, and medications for chronic care to include diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders and mental health conditions and basic age specific vaccinations to qualified individuals.
HCNJ provides health screening and chronic disease prevention, education and counseling to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured and marginalized population of the society throughout the New Jersey via health fair activities for the past 25 years. The mission of HCNJ is to provide early screening to detect chronic medical, dental, eye and mental health diseases to provide early intervention to reduce long term complications and save lives.
HCNJ continues to be a leader in NJ offering free health screening to 600 to 800 underprivileged individuals in New Jersey every year since 1998. To date, HCNJ has provided screening to more than 12,500 individuals and detected approximately 4,000 chronic diseases abnormalities that included heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and various types of cancer, eye, mental health and many other disorders. The estimated market value of the free services rendered by HCNJ since its inception is more than 10 million dollars.
There are close to 9%, approximately 27 million Americans who do not have health insurance as per the data in 2022. The New Jersey rate is 7% where low-income families, mostly adults, have no insurance due to high cost of private insurance and the cost of coverage is too high for them to afford. The undocumented immigrants and parents or families visiting from overseas are the other group who lack medical coverage. In addition, one in 5 uninsured adults goes without needed medical care due to cost of high insurance premium and out of pocket expenses. Uninsured or underinsured individuals are less likely to receive preventive care and services for their chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer screening.
HCNJ’s distinctive initiative of Community Health Center will reduce health care disparities in underprivileged communities and also reduce the overall health care burden on local, state and federal levels. A fund-raising Gala to commemorate 25th anniversary will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 5pm onwards at the Balaji Temple Auditorium in Bridgewater, NJ featuring dinner and Bollywood extravaganza. HCNJ’s preventive health care initiatives have been recognized by many private and Government agencies which includes NJ Department of Health and Human Services, the Governor’s Office, NJBIZ and faith-based and community organizations over the past 25 years. In addition, HCNJ collaborates with NJ State Commission for the Blind for eye screening, RWJ Somerset-Barnabas Health, NJ CEED, Legacy Pharmacy Group, SAMHIN, Rutgers University and Penn Medicine.
For detailed information about HCNJ’s health fair activities, upcoming project of community health center and 25th anniversary gala sponsorships, donations or tickets, please visit www.IHCNJ.org or contact HCNJ President Dr. Tushar Patel, at 848-391-0499.