Operation Blessing to Launch Medical Clinic in New Orleans
|
 A New Orleans
resident consults with Dr. Davison at the medical fair. Thirty-five percent of the New Orleans population
has no health insurance.
Dr. Betterton writes a prescription for a patient. With chronically ill patients requiring up to
three drugs each, the need for a large, well-stocked pharmacy is critical to the clinic's success.
|
NEW ORLEANS - The floodwaters of Katrina have long since receded, but
as residents return home, another more pressing crisis is emerging: lack of sufficient
medical care.
“The medical crisis in New Orleans is much like the kind you would experience in a
third world country,” said Jody Herrington, Disaster Relief Manager for Operation Blessing.
As nearly 150,000 evacuees return to the city, the number of returning doctors is less
than adequate. Only one-fourth of the doctors have returned to the Orleans, Jefferson and
St. Bernard Parishes, and in Orleans alone, only two locations are receiving patients: Touro
Infirmary and Children’s Hospital.
Responding to the need, OBI teamed up with International Medical Alliance (IMA), the City of New
Orleans Health Department and Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps (RAM), last week
to sponsor a medical fair in New Orleans. At the fair, 9,600 patients were seen and an average of 650 prescriptions dispensed daily.
A medical report submitted by Dr. Dale Betterton, Medical Director for IMA and Dr. Dorothy
Davison, IMA President, indicated that since the holidays, ‘there has been an increase in the
number of returning evacuees, many of whom have serious chronic illnesses.”
“Not only is a free, primary health care clinic highly desirable and necessary,” the report
indicated, “it borders on being essential for a burgeoning, ill population.”
Based on the success of the medical fair, OBI and IMA are moving forward with plans to launch
a disaster relief medical clinic in New Orleans to aid Katrina victims – many of whom are unemployed
and without health insurance.
“We are moving forward with great diligence, strategy and cooperation with the New Orleans
government and medical community,” Herrrington said. “Our hope is to have the clinic up and running
by mid-March.”
How You Can Help As OBI continues to assess the needs for hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast, your support is
critical! Volunteer teams are working non-stop to help residents with debris removal, mold
remediation, sheetrock installation and more. In addition, OBI is actively recruiting volunteer
teams, medical and dental professionals to staff their clinics. If you are interested in applying
to be a volunteer, click here. To continue supporting OBI’s ongoing hurricane relief efforts, make
an online donation today!
|
]