Health center receives $50K
Bank of Hawaii Foundation recently gifted West Hawaii Community Health Center with funds to help support its new, recently opened health care center in Kealakehe. BOH Foundation presented a $50,000 check to West Hawaii Community Health Center for its $1 million Life That Matters capital campaign.
The funds support the construction of the 10,500-square-foot health care facility, which provides medical and dental services for those living in North Kona and surrounding communities. It is projected that after 12 full months of service at this facility, West Hawaii Community Health Center-Kealakehe will serve 5,200 patients. Once fully operational, this site is projected to serve 7,500 patients, recording more than 20,000 patient visits per year.
Rotarians to hear about HIV/AIDS Foundation
The Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a healthier, stronger community with an emphasis on HIV and related health issues. Teri Hollowell, director of programming, will speak about the many things this organization does for the community during the Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise meeting from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. Wednesday at Humpy’s in the Coconut Grove Marketplace on Alii Drive. Breakfast is $12 per person. Rotarians and interested individuals are welcome to attend.
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.
For more information, contact Carol Salis at 854-2162 or carol.salis@boh.com.
Seniors plan movie outing
The Kailua-Kona Seniors will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the County Civic Center, Building A. This is Movie Day and the event is open to all interested seniors. The title of movie is “Danny Collins.”
There is no meeting at Hale Halawai this week.
For more information, call Dave at 345-1388 or Pat at 329-2424.
Event allows safe disposal of drugs
The national drug take-back day on Sept. 26 is approaching, giving Hawaii residents a chance to clear out old or unwanted medications from their home.
The police said that “having unused and expired medicine in your home increases the risk of prescription drug abuse and accidental poisoning. Proper disposal also helps reduce the risk of prescription drugs entering a human water supply or potentially harming aquatic life.”
The location on the leeward side of the island is the Kona Police Station and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Prescriptions expire and collect on people’s shelves over time and simply throwing the drugs away may be risky. The Take Back initiative promotes safe disposal of prescription drugs,” said Attorney General Douglas Chin in a press release.
In addition to the risk of abuse of drugs, when some drugs expire they can become poisonous, health authorities said.
The take back accepts tablets, capsules and all solid dosage forms of medication.
It does not accepts needles, syringes or illicit drugs.
This is one of a trio of options for people to dispose of unwanted medications. The other options are mail-back pouches and fixed drop-off locations.
The Drug Enforcement Agency rules say that collectors may not force anyone to give information on themselves, their prescription or their doctor. To help protect a person’s privacy, the DEA recommends not depositing the prescription bottles with the medication.
Fall break Bible camp planned
Children in kindergarten through sixth grades looking for fun activities during the fall break are invited to Cornerstone Christian Fellowship for Vacation Bible Camp Oct. 5 to 9 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The theme “Journey Off the Map” presents Jesus as the ultimate guide for life drawing from his life and the life of the prophet Daniel. Activities include Bible study, videos, games, snacks, mission study, crafts, music and recreation. A meal will be provided for the children and workers. The worship rally will be led by Tatiana Stanley, a senior who worked with children during the summer in California.
Pre-registration for the free camp is available at the church, 74-4972 Kealakaa St., next to Makua Lani School, on any Sunday morning preceding the camp or by calling 640-4726.