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PROVO — Provo launched a program on Tuesday dubbed "Kaufusi's Keikis" to provide annual free health screenings for elementary school children.
"This is personal to me because I was that 'free/reduced-lunch kid' being raised by a single mom with seven kids. We were always in survival mode as a family, so my success would not have been possible without a caring community who stepped in to make a difference," Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi said.
The mayor presented a $25,000 check from the Provo Open at Timpanogos Elementary School, kicking off the program that will provide annual opt-in health screenings for free to elementary-aged children in Provo.
"Kaufusi's Keikis is another example of our caring community coming together for the health of our children. I can't think of a more important cause than addressing health disparities and promoting health equity," Kaufusi said.
The word "keikis" is Hawaiian for "kids."
Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is partnering with Provo City School District to develop the preventive health program that has a long-term goal of "changing the health trajectories of Provo's next generation," a press release said.
Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine students will conduct health screenings under faculty supervision, but the program is intended to expand to other pre-med and health care students as well.
"Mayor Kaufusi's personal experiences growing up in this community, where access to health screenings was lacking, along with her unwavering dedication to the well-being of Provo's school children, made it clear that establishing this program as the Kaufusi's Keikis Health Outreach Program was the right choice," said Dr. Norman Wright, president of Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Kaufusi's Keikis will be implemented in a phased approach, starting with the first health screening on May 1 at Timpanogos Elementary School, a Title I school.
The screenings will have multiple stations to check vital signs, conduct cardiopulmonary tests, neurological exams, scoliosis checks and basic dental and vision inspections.
The program is funded through donations made to the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine Foundation. Noorda also received $10,000 from Utah Valley Hospital in support of the initiative.
"By all of us working together, we are confident we can positively impact the health trajectories of the children in our community," Wright said.
Caleb Price, communications director for Provo City School District, said the school district is looking forward to collaborating on the program and that it will provide important services to students.
Noorda College student Laura Minor has been working with faculty on organizing the volunteer side of the program. She said Kaufusi's Keikis provide students an "invaluable" opportunity to engage with the health needs of the community that many students will one day work in as physicians.
