With the motto “to save local lives”, the MHERV project has been operating for over six years.

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It travels across regional and rural NSW, offering free health checkups to people who may not have seen a doctor for many months – if not years.

In that time, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels may have reached seriously high levels with no symptoms.

“[That’s] until it’s too late and a heart attack or stroke strikes,” Coffs City Rotary President Bob Carle warned.

The initiative started in Western NSW as a small caravan on main streets and in shopping centres.

Designed to reach remote farmers without access to doctors or medical services, the objective was to catch health issues before they became serious.

Rotary club grants keep the free service running, which has proven successful at achieving its purpose.

“The MHERV van has saved many lives,” Mr Carle said.

“One year we had a 40-year-old local visitor who looked fit and healthy at first glance but after the screening he had to be sent immediately to the emergency department.

“By saving one life the whole thing is made worthwhile.”

By visiting regional communities, the MHERV provides an easily accessible opportunity for men to have a health check performed by a registered nurse.

Sawtell Rotary Youth Director Alan Freedman says it’s especially important for people to visit the van if they’re not seeing a family doctor for health checks.

“Since working with the van we have seen many people requiring urgent medical attention, one even being life threatening,” he said.

“I urge anyone passing the van to stop and have this quick check.”

Rotary says the program is focussed on men, “because unlike the womenfolk, they are not good at caring for their own health. But nobody is turned away”.

The ten minute service is offered in a relaxed, confidential and informal setting where the nurse conducts the tests and discusses any health concerns seated in the privacy of the van.

The van will be at Woolgoolga Diggers Club on 23 October and at 17 Beach Street on 24 October.

Coffs Harbour dates are Bunnings (25th) and Cook Drive (26th).

MHERV will be outside Sawtell RSL on 28 and 29 October and in Urunga on Mogo Street on 30 October.

Last stop for the region is in Dorrigo, outside Spar on 1 November and at 37 Hickory Street on 2 November.

By Andrea FERRARI