Kaiser again offers many free health tests Sunday Checkups include vision, dental, blood pressure, diabetes, prostate cancer

Parents always have to arrange for a medical exam and immunizations before putting a child in school.

Try doing that for eight children after school is in session.

That was the problem in August 2005 for Constantina and Siegfried Guentensperger, who moved to Modesto with their four children after living for seven years in Switzerland. The parents also are raising the four surviving children of Constantina's late sister from Oregon.

"The children needed their immunizations and we had very scant records for them," said Constantina Guentensperger, who is a California native. "The school (officials) said we needed to have this and that before they could come back to school."

The Kaiser Permanente Neighbors in Health event, held the third Sunday of every August, became their solution.

The eight children, ages 5 to 13, went from table to table at the 2005 health fair, getting immunizations and medical exams, and having their teeth and eyes checked. They also had lunch and enjoyed hearing about snakes and lizards from a reptile expert.

The children returned to their respective schools that Monday.

The family plans to attend the 2006 Neighbors in Health fair, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Kaiser Permanente medical offices at 4125 Bangs Ave., Modesto.

The free health screenings for adults and children also are being offered Sunday, same times, at the Kaiser medical offices in Manteca, 1721 W. Yosemite Ave., and at the Stockton medical offices, 7373 West Lane.

The services include screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and prostate cancer. Volunteer health professionals also offer vision and dental screenings for children.

Other adult services include HIV counseling, screenings for sexually transmitted diseases and pharmacy services. Interpreters will be available.

Kaiser Permanente started Neighbors in Health in Stockton nine years ago because of the large numbers of Central Valley residents who don't have health insurance or are underinsured.

Kaiser expanded the health fair to Manteca, and the one-day event is in its fourth year in Modesto.

Almost 3,500 people took advantage of the services last year. More than 200 physicians and nurses, as well as other Kaiser Permanente employees and family members, donate their time.

Michael Wong, a physician in charge of health promotions for Kaiser, said that many of the people who attend the event have not seen a doctor for a while.

The screenings may serve to reveal an undiagnosed medical condition. In addition, an abundance of health information is available, he said.

"If there is a medical need, we can help fill that gap," Wong said. "We also raise awareness of the importance of taking care of yourself."