Mobile health van provides vital support service

A MOBILE medical van has delivered free health checks to more than 100 people in the Ballina region, with the support of the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond.

It is the fourth straight year the Men’s Health Education Rural Van (MHERV) has visited Ballina, with Alstonville also included in the stop.

The van is staffed by a registered nurse and offers free tests for high blood pressure, blood sugar issues and high cholesterol. Consultations take about 10 minutes, with advice and support available for follow-up appointments with a GP.

Since it was established by the Rotary Club of Warners Bay in 2017, the MHERV has tested more than 20,000 men, with more than 8,000 found to be in need of treatment and over 600 in immediate danger of a stroke or heart attack.

Registered nurse Richelle Stewart is on a four-month trip around the state with 50 scheduled stops. She makes the run twice a year and will have helped hundreds of men and women by the time she finishes in December.

“We had 50 people, including 10 women, on our first day at Ballina, which is quite a lot,” Stewart said.

“The majority of that group had identifiable issues that they need to go and see their GP about.

“I can tell them virtually within minutes whether they need to follow it up and we have sent people straight to hospital with cardiac issues.

“I’ve had 70 people in a day in some of the smaller country towns we visit, so there is a definite need for it.”

Stewart said the program relied on local volunteers.

“There are always people to help along the way. We go to places where a Rotary Club, Men’s Shed or Lions Club can help sponsor us,” she said.

“We call this van Goldilocks because it’s not too big or small. It has just the right amount of equipment and space for us to provide a valuable service.”