Residents of southeast Alabama will have the opportunity to receive medical, dental and eye screenings at no charge in Barbour and Macon counties on June 16-25.
The clinics, hosted by the Delta Regional Authority and medical personnel from the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marines, are part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training program. The program prepares military personnel for wartime missions while providing healthcare services in to communities in underserved areas.
“More than 50,000 Delta residents have benefited from the unique partnership that the Delta Regional Authority has had with our men and women in uniform over the past six years,” said Chris Masingill, Federal Co-Chairman of the DRA. “We are excited to continue this partnership to once again provide medical care to thousands of Alabama Black Belt residents this summer."
The clinics will be open to the general public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:
- Barbour County High School, 165 South Midway Street in Clayton.
- Eufaula High School, 530 Lake Drive in Eufaula.
- Tuskegee Institute Middle School, 1809 Franklin Road in Tuskegee.
The Eufaula location will extend its clinic to June 26 and provide services from 8 a.m. until noon. No appointments are necessary, but residents are encouraged to arrive early to ensure an opening for services.
“The lack of sufficient medical care is one of the major symptoms in preventing Alabama’s Black Belt region from reaching its full potential,” said Jim Byard Jr., director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. “Governor Robert Bentley and I are thankful for this program and the hosting communities. It means so much for so many Alabamians.”
ADECA administers the DRA program in Alabama. The Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission and other state and local organizations are assisting in the coordination of the clinics.
In addition to receiving medical services, residents will be able to obtain information at clinic sites about local medical programs, resources and information.
The DRA and ADECA will be hosting another IRT medical mission in Alabama’s Black Belt in August.
The Delta Regional Authority is a federal-state partnership that is congressionally mandated to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives through strategic investments in economic development in the 252 counties and parishes of the Delta region. Twenty Alabama counties are included in the Delta region and eligible for DRA programs. To learn more about the Innovative Readiness Training program or the DRA, visit dra.gov or irt.defense.gov
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Contact Jim Plott