Residents of southwest Alabama will have the opportunity to receive medical, dental and eye screenings at no charge in Dallas, Marengo, and Wilcox counties on Aug. 4-13.
The clinics, hosted by the Delta Regional Authority and the U.S. Army Reserve, 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 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 4 p.m. each day at the following locations:
Lena Powell Convention Center, 211 Claiborne St. in Camden
Theo Ratliff Activity Center, 306 First Ave. in Demopolis
George P. Evans Reception Hall, 2 Lawrence St. in Selma
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 local communities 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 hosted another IRT medical mission in East Alabama in Clayton, Eufaula, and Tuskegee in June. The East Alabama Care medical mission reached 6,000 patients with more than 18,000 procedures and check-ups in medical, dental, and optical care.
The DRA is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2,000 to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives through strategic investments in economic development in 252 counties and parishes across eight states. 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