Operation Blessing expands medical clinic in New Orleans East

A few working traffic lights replace stop signs, a gas station bears the sign "now open" and Operation Blessing's expanded medical clinic opened its doors to a barrage of patients Monday in New Orleans East.

The new larger clinic officially opened at 9 a.m. and by 10:15 a.m. had registered 61 patients. Patients drove in from all areas – the 9th ward, the west bank and as far as Houston, Texas – to receive much needed free medical treatment in a city that faces a health crisis.

"I had a recent heart attack and have gall stones and hypertension. I have everything. You name it, I got it. It looks like Katrina just brought it all on," said Pearl, a Houston evacuee who drove six-hours just to reach the clinic. "I'm in Houston right now, but the medicine is just so high. I came all the way here to get medicine."

Pearl, 63 and mother of 11 children (two have died), has been living in Houston since Katrina severely damaged her 9th ward home. Her Medicaid card expired, and she has had difficulty in contacting them to renew her card. While she was evacuated in Houston, she suffered a heart attack in January.

"I just need my blood pressure bills and heart medicine," she said, holding her head down. The nurse at the medical clinic brought her in from the hot sun outside as she wasn't feeling well. "I want to survive that's why I did all that traveling back down here."

Pearl is one of more than 1600 patients Operation Blessing's free medical clinic has treated since it opened in April. The new larger trailer has seven exam rooms as opposed to the temporary clinic which only had two exam rooms. The larger clinic will also provide mental health counseling.

According to Dr. Dale Betterton, the clinic offers primary care. Most patients treated at the clinic suffer from minor acute problems and chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The onsite pharmacy provides free medication for many Katrina victims who are returning to an area without open drug stores.

"We're seeing a lot of allergies. People with allergies and they are working with dust and mold. Most are them are coming back to live here," Betterton said.

Lawrence, 25 of New Orleans East, pulled a muscle while lifting a trailer that he was hooking up to his truck. Lawrence, who lost his home in Katrina, said this is the only clinic in the area for him to get treatment.

"The clinic is a real good thing. The community is coming back real well and everyone is coming back," Lawrence said.

The clinic has been treating children as well as adults.

Toyida, who lives in a FEMA trailer in the 9th ward while her home is repaired, brought in her one-year-old son Kebran who was suffering from cold symptoms.

"It was the closest clinic open by my house," she said.

By the end of the day, medical staff treated 63 patients. Husband and wife team, Dr. Betterton and nurse practitioner Dorothy Davison, who oversee the clinic, are the founders of the International Medical Alliance (IMA), an organization which provides free medical, dental, surgical, veterinary and eyeglass care to people in need. OBI has funded a partnership with IMA in order to open the free clinic.

"We're just fulfilling the need of the people. Most were treated shabbily after the storm. They didn't get much care where they ended up," Betterton stated.

Pearl, the Houston evacuee, plans to move back to the 9th ward this summer.

"I just want to come home. I want to be able to sit on my porch like I used to," she said.

Betterton believes the clinic will remain open indefinite due to the health crisis in the New Orleans area. OBI also plans to open a free dental clinic next week adjacent to the medical clinic at 5501 Read Boulevard, across from the former Methodist Hospital in New Orleans East. The Greater St. Stephen Church has allowed OBI to use their parking lot as the site for the medical and dental clinic.

If you would like to volunteer for OBI's medical clinic, please contact Davison or Betterton at imaonline@att.net.

How You Can Help

Be a part of OBI's ongoing disaster relief efforts by making an online donation today and help those affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes. For volunteer opportunities with OBI in the Gulf Coast, click here.

Who is Operation Blessing?
An international humanitarian aid organization dedicated to alleviating human need and suffering by providing food, water, medicine and disaster relief to those in need.

Contact Us By Phone
1-800-730-2537