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Residents who attended Todu Guam’s Wellness on Wheels outreach event in Talo’fo’fo’ said there is a need for free health clinics in the villages. Barrigada resident Annalise Rugante, 31, and Inalåhan resident Gavin Diego, 38, brought their children to the event to get school and sports physicals. Rugante would have normally paid out of pocket for her son’s physical at a clinic, so Saturday’s event at the Talo’fo’fo’ police koban was a good opportunity, especially for people “who don’t have insurance or access to health care.” She said the fact that they are offering services for free is good for the island. “When it comes to preventative care, things like this can help our island’s people get diagnosed. Having access to medical care like this can alleviate our island of all the issues with our hospital and things like that,” Rugante said. Diego was only aware of the physical examination services. He was surprised to see that the clinic offered many additional services, including cancer screenings, Pap smears, consultations with board-certified physicians, immunizations, and flu shots. He added that Todu Guam made these services more convenient and accessible for southern residents, removing the need to drive north to Guam Memorial Hospital, the Department of Public Health and Social Services locations, or Guam Regional Medical City, especially those who cannot make the trip during working hours on weekdays. “I work from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., so Public Health is usually closed by then, so Saturday events are perfect for the availability of the village,” Diego said. “Everyone was here before 9 a.m. It was packed, showing there is definitely a need in the community, especially with all the health negativity or struggles that healthcare is facing in Guam.” Dr. Melliza Young, M.D., Todu Guam director of program advocacy and communication, said the outreach events are intended as extensions of the primary care clinic in Tamuning. The outreach event was staffed by Todu Guam employees, nurse practitioners, and program volunteers, as well as Dr. Julie Namm (newborn and pediatrics), Dr. Sam Song (obstetrician and reproductive services), and Dr. Danny McClure (psychiatrist). Looking to capture patients before their condition worsens, Young said the primary goal of the Wellness on Wheels outreach is to prevent residents from needing to go to the hospital, which could lessen financial strain and prevent overcrowding. “We want to emphasize people getting seen routinely and not just when they feel something, even before the symptoms happen,” Young said. “The impact is we’re preventing those unnecessary admissions.” Young stressed that the rising health issues in Guam including cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, are all best prevented and treated the earlier they are caught. The Todu Guam main clinic and mobile outreach program is equipped to do screening tests for breast, colon, and lung cancer. “Identifying them early gets them in the system, so they will be updated on what services are available to take advantage of. If they are uninsured, they’d rather not know what the condition is because they won’t be able to afford it,” she said. Todu Guam has a financial assistance program that gives them a discount or directs them to apply for Medicaid, she said. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Young added, Guam is lagging behind national benchmarks for cancer screenings. “In 2020, only 68% of women aged 21–65 received a cervical cancer screening within three years, compared to 77.7% nationally,” Young said. “Breast cancer screening rates in 2022 were 69.9% for women aged 40+ and 74.2% for women aged 50–74, both slightly below national averages.” Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45 to 75 was only 41.4% among women and 52.2% among men. These statistics, Young said, highlight underutilization of preventive services and fragmented diagnostic systems. She said Guam’s structural barriers, having only two civilian hospitals and two federally qualified health centers, “all operating beyond capacity,” exacerbate the island’s health challenges. Young said few private clinics in Guam accept Medicaid, and “uninsured individuals face high out-of-pocket costs” for Pap smears, mammograms, colonoscopies, or low-dose CT scans, all of which are necessary services for preventative care and treatment. “As a result, cancers are often detected late, reducing survival rates and increasing treatment costs,” Young said. “The 2023 BRFSS found that 21.7% of women and 15.4% of men were unable to see a doctor when needed due to cost. Guam’s uninsured rate— 19%, over twice the U.S. average— further limits access to essential preventive care.” ‘You never know what you need’ Todu Guam encourages people to check out and take advantage of its outreach services, because “you never know what you need,” Young added. “Prevention is key, and getting on top of your health early on is essential for people to enjoy their life,” she said. Future outreach events may also feature Todu Guam’s second mobile clinic, which is currently under renovation. “It was supposed to have been ready last month, but it should be ready soon,” Young said. “It’s being remodeled to have three exam rooms. Initially, there were two exam rooms and a space in between, so now, there’s going to be three.” The mobile clinic is also set up every Saturday at the Dededo flea market. Further details can be found at the clinic’s website and Instagram.
