NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- “It’s hot, but we’re enjoying every minute of it,” said Darcella Davis.

She was one of more than 500 people who braved the scorching heat to enjoy a little fun in the sun and learn about health care services at the third annual community health fair in Newburgh.

“There are a lot of people who have no idea where to go, how to go about it, especially in the different specialties,” Davis said.

The event is organized by the Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center in honor of National Health Center Week.

“It’s our opportunity to showcase the importance of a community health center, but also to bring services to the people that need them most,” said Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Canter CEO Linda Muller.

According to a survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, community health centers around the country serve more than 30 million people annually. Here in New York, health officials say nearly one-and-a-half million people choose community health centers for primary medical services.

“We’re here, a community health center whose singular purpose in life is to be of service to the people that surround us," Muller said.

The event featured bounce houses, face painting, food and music but more importantly, 55 vendors providing fair goers with information on accessing medical services.

“At our health center, we believe health care should be a right not a privilege,” said Muller.

Some state and federal officials also attended to raise awareness about the importance of affordable health care.

“We ought to have people in Washington and in Albany and at the county level and at the state level come to together and provide for the citizens,” said New York State Senator Bill Larkin.

“We’ve got some enormous challenges that we can face as a nation to make sure that good affordable healthcare is available to all,” Congresswoman Nan Hayworth added.

The health center provides primary, preventative and specialty services as well as dental and urgent care.

This article and video was published by YNN Hudson Valley on August 4, 2012 and can be found here.