Bayview Child Health Center

Statistics can only ever tell part of any story, but what they say about the health of children in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood in San Francisco is shocking enough.

Children's Health in the Bayview

One sixth of all children living in Bayview have asthma, a higher rate than any other part of the city. The number of children who are overweight or even obese is on the rise, and the infant mortality rate is among the highest not just in San Francisco, but in all of California.

But what is even more shocking is that while the Bayview has the highest number of children of any community in the city, it has just one pediatrician. That’s right, just one specialist physician to take care of the needs of all of the children of our community. By any standards that is unacceptable and has to change, and it has.

Center Now Open

1335 Evans Avenue

1-415-600-1990

In March a brand new medical center, the Bayview Child Health Center, opened at 1335 Evans Avenue. It’s a state-of-the-art facility offering the best care to the children of the community. There are the usual well-baby exams as well as immunizations and treatment for children who are sick. But there’s a lot more too. With obesity a growing problem across America the Center is offering a weight management clinic to help families get the information and guidance they need in eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight. Mental health services are also available to assist families in crisis.

For too long too many of the children in the Bayview have had to travel outside the neighborhood to see a doctor, and to get the medical care they need. When a child is sick the last thing a parent should have to worry about is how far they need to go to get help. That’s why this clinic is so important. It provides more than just care for families; it provides peace of mind, knowing there is someone nearby who can help.

The Gift of Giving

But this kind of help does not come easily. It has taken a lot of hard work, and money. California Pacific Medical Center and the CPMC Foundation have given generously of time, money and resources. Others, such as United Way, have also helped.

By offering health care to every child in the Bayview, regardless of whether they have insurance or can afford to pay, CPMC is trying to make a difference in the lives of families in the community, to ensure that every child in the neighborhood has everything they need for a healthy life. They deserve no less.