KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Free health care available for Delta counties

Residents of several Delta counties will have access to free health and dental clinics beginning Wednesday and continuing through June 18.

The areas include sites in Lee, Cross, Desha, Chicot and Phillips counties.

While some of the information released to the media has mentioned the severe flooding which recently took place in the area, the free clinics were being planned well before the flooding, according to Becky Hall, director of the Delta Area Health Education Centers, which is helping coordinate the event.

"There are so many people in all these communities we serve who don't receive the care they need," said Hall. "A lot are men and women aged 19 to 64 who have no health insurance. So often, people don't go to doctors for screenings. They only go when there is an acute illness."

She said preventive care is important, and is more economical  in the long run.

"Currently, 95 percent of our health care dollars are spent on acute care," said Hall. "And it doesn't cost nearly that much to provide preventive care. For instance, if we can prevent someone's diabetes from getting out of control, it is a lot cheaper than having to take a leg."

Hall said examinations for dental  and vision problems are also important.

"We have people whose teeth are falling out, or they're pulling them out with pliers," she said. "They don't have glasses when they need them. And other chronic diseases are more severe, such as hypertension."

She said there would be clinics in Marianna, Wynne, Helena-West Helena, Eudora and McGhee. The clinics will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"And we'll work through the weekend," she said.

Patients must be two years of age or older to receive service. Residents will be seen by appointment. For more information, people should call the nearest county health unit. The two closest to this area will be in Wynne and Marianna. In Wynne, information is available by calling the Cross County Health Department at 870-238-2101. The  actual clinics will be held at Wynne High School. In Marianna, the clinics will be held at the Marianna Civic Center. For more information, call the Lee County Health Unit at 870-295-2400.

"Anyone can come," said Hall. "And we won't be asking for proof of income. But this is primarily for those who cannot afford regular health care."

Members of the military will be providing the care. The  Defense Department is sending 293 medical professionals, from the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve and Air Force Reserve. An estimated 5,000 underserved residents are expected to receive care.

Services that will be provided include medical screening, non-emergency medical treatment, minor lab test, dental exams, extractions, fillings, prescription assistance and educational information. The military will not be providing any emergency or OB services. Residents will be responsible for the cost of any follow-up care.

The health initiative is named Taskforce Razorback. Participants include the Delta Regional Authority, the Department of Defense, and the Delta Area Health Education Centers, run by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

The clinics are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment. Patients have to be at least two years old to receive service. Call the nearest county health unit for more information:

Lee County Health Department (870) 295-2400

Cross County Health Department (870) 238-2101

Desha County Health Department (870) 222-3910

Chicot County Health Department (870) 538-3336

Phillips County Health Department 870-572-9028

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