New Orleans residents still desperate for medical care
"I had to get some help somewhere. I'm grateful that they have this," said Karen outside OBI's dental clinic.
Dr. Dale Betterton, left, talks with Viani and her husband regarding the care of their one-month-old son, José Manuel.
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POSTED: April 23, 2007
By Sarah Pate
NEW ORLEANS - For Karen of St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans, three times was the charm in getting the dental help she needed.
"The clinic opens at 9 a.m., so we got here at 7:30. But they said, you better be here earlier than that."
By the third time she was able to arrange transportation, Karen arrived promptly at 3:30 a.m. to take her place as seventh in line.
Like many residents living in post-Katrina New Orleans, Karen has been in search of affordable and available health care. Yet with the majority of the clinics and hospitals still closed and insurance options limited, finding medical help has been a challenge.
"I had to get some help somewhere…and I'm grateful that they have this," she said.
Next door, in the adjoining medical clinic, one-month-old José Manuel is making the rounds with the medical staff.
His mother, Viani, came to the clinic for pre-natal care before giving birth a few weeks prematurely. Thanks to her sister Rafael's referral, who has a six-month-old newborn, Viani and her son are now receiving much-needed medical care from the clinic, free of charge.
"It's one thing to read about it and see the pictures, it's another thing to be here, hear the stories and see it for yourself," said Linh, a first year medical student from Kansas University who volunteered at the clinic during her Spring Break.
"The feeling you get when you're here…you really sympathize when you understand what's going on," she added.
To date, OBI's clinics have treated more than 22,000 patients and filled more than 51,000 prescriptions.
Clinics are currently seeking licensed medical professionals to help volunteer. For more information, contact OBI's medical coordinator, Thomas Koehl, at nola.ima@gmail.com , or Pamela Fincher, OBI dental manager, at Pamela.Fincher@ob.org.
How You Can Help Be a part of OBI's ongoing disaster relief efforts by making an online donation to help those caught in the midst of disaster. For volunteer opportunities in New Orleans, click here.
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