UNC School of Nursing’s Mobile Health Clinic supports MERA Health Fair

The UNC School of Nursing’s Mobile Health Clinic (MHC) recently supported a Health Fair organized by the MERA Group, a student-founded nonprofit focused on ensuring equitable access to dental and medical services for Middle Eastern refugees. The event provided critical health screenings, education, and referrals for ongoing care to underserved community members.

At the fair, UNC nursing volunteers served 42 clients by conducting blood pressure, blood sugar, and vision screenings. They also provided education and referrals to address health concerns.

Maria Orsini, EdD, RN, Chief Nurse Performance Improvement and Research at Durham VA, reflected on the significance of the MERA Health Fair and its impact on families. “Children saw their parents actively engaged in self-care and family care and will hopefully adopt self-care practices,” Orsini said. A monthly volunteer translator for the MHC, Orsini has been an adjunct assistant professor at UNC since 2019, supporting quality and leadership courses.

Arlindo Lagunas, a Carolina Nursing student currently enrolled in a public health course, expressed his appreciation for the event. “I was impressed with the maturity of my colleagues, the students who organized this event and served clients. These students are all involved in providing a meaningful service along with their ongoing academic obligations,” Lagunas said.

Sally Williford, MSN, a Carolina alumna, MHC volunteer, and adjunct faculty member, joined MERA for the second year in a row. “It was pleasant and humbling to meet the other interdisciplinary volunteers and the clients, and to discuss the need to serve uninsured and underserved populations,” Williford said.

MERA Group, based at UNC Chapel Hill, works to improve access to medical and dental care for Middle Eastern refugees. The organization received the Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award last spring. Learn more about their work at meranonprofit.org.

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