Health clinics will be held in four rural high schools beginning June 10 as part of a military training program.
“They will provide health screenings — blood sugar, blood pressure. There’s rampant undiagnosed diabetes in this area,” said Stephanie Quattlebaum, the deputy director of the CSRA Regional Commission, a civilian partner agency for the military’s Innovative Readiness Training exercise scheduled for June 10-17.
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Clinics will provide the screenings plus dental care such as cleanings, fillings and extractions, eye exams and some veterinary services. Screenings are on a first-come first-served basis and will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Warren County, Burke County, Hancock County and Jenkins County High Schools.
Glasses are distributed a couple of days after the eye exams, she said.
Quattlebaum said the four sites cover 13 counties in East Central Georgia. The CSRA Regional Commission covers Richmond, Columbia, Burke, Lincoln, Wilkes, McDuffie, Taliaferro, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Warren, Washington and Glascock Counties.
This will be the third year the clinics have been held in the area. They were held in 2018 and 2019, but were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, she said.
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“Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) is a collaborative program that leverages military contributions and community resources to multiply value and cost savings for participants. Communities typically provide materials and basic services (e.g. facilities), while military units contribute personnel and training resources. IRT missions produce mission ready forces, civil-military partnerships and stronger communities,” according to the IRT website.
Training comes in four different areas — health care, construction, cyber security and transportation.
In the two previous years the clinics have been held in nearby counties, nearly 6,000 individuals have received health care services. Services are provided to people two years old and older who are uninsured, underinsured or in need of quality health care, Quattlebaum said. Services are provided free. No proof of insurance is required, and no appointments are needed.
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In addition to the services for people, limited veterinary services are provided in some cases, she said.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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