The building that gained notoriety for death and despair four years ago was the site for wellness and better living on Saturday, November 14. That’s the day, the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) hosted a large one-day free clinic at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.
The C.A.R.E. Clinic (Communities Are Responding Everyday) duplicated the free one-day health care clinic sponsored by Dr. Oz, in Houston, Texas earlier this year that served almost 2,000 patients. An estimated 1,400 uninsured New Orleanians came out to receive consultations and medical screenings. And 250 patients were in house within the first 45 minutes of the event.
“We’re here today where many people died a few years ago; we’re helping save lives today,” said Dr. Roni Whitfield, who served as the event’s medical director.
Dr. Whitfield is known as the Hip-Hop Doc. The Baton Rouge native has become a respected lecturer and advocate for wellness, by developing a solid rapport with the young African-American community.
Convention halls were transformed into waiting rooms and care pods as 700 volunteers and nearly 120 medical providers offered care and assistance for various types of medical issues.
“Over 46,000 Americans die each year due to lack of access to health care a year,” Whitfield added.
The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the more than 1,200 free clinics and the people they serve in the United States.
Dr. Corey Hebert, Chief Resident of Pediatrics at Tulane University , as well as the medical editor for WDSU-TV known as the ‘Doctor for the people’ and who was instrumental in the NAFC bringing a free clinic event to the Crescent City said, “I went to help with Dr. Oz in Houston with NACF and met Nicole Lamoureaux, and we talked about possibly doing something here in New Orleans. And once Keith Olbermann made his statement on healthcare reform, we knew we had to act on it. Some people felt it couldn’t be done here — and wouldn’t run smoothly, but it went fine. I’m very excited to see this happening here.”
Also on hand was radio personality Michael Baisden, who donated $20,000 to help New Orleanians that are unable to afford health care on their own.
“This is not only a great city, but there’s a great need here,” NAFC’s executive director, Nicole Lamoureaux said. “While in Houston, we saw many people from New Orleans that said ‘You’ve got to come to New Orleans’; it just seemed like a natural fit.”
“We have a strong network of statewide free clinics,” she added. “Our state association here is phenomenal. We’re only here for a day, but they’re here every single day to do this. It just seemed like a great partnership.
“Since the 1960s, free clinics have been serving America’s working poor, and over the last year our patient base has grown to include white- and blue-collar workers who have lost their jobs along with their health insurance,” Nicole Lamoureux said. “Free clinics truly are America’s best-kept health care secret.”
Pat Alford, Executive Director of Community Clinic in Baton Rouge agrees. Daughters of Charity Services has provided essential healthcare to the community since the early 1800s, yet many New Orleanians don’t know they exist.
“The working/ uninsured are people that just aren’t accustomed to receiving free care, like Medicaid; they don’t know where to look for these resources,” Alford explained. “They’re the ones who fall through the cracks.”
And with no Charity Hospital, places like Common Ground and Daughters of Charity are vital. “One in three Louisianans have no healthcare insurance.” Alford told The Louisiana Weekly.
Lucinda Wilson from Gentilly was fortunate to find a job recently, but her new employer does not offer health insurance.
Though she came out to the event because she was suffering from a sinus infection, Wilson is taking heed to the benefits of preventative care. “I want to get screened for heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes – it all runs in my family. I haven’t been diagnosed with anything fortunately, but I want to keep a handle on it.”
Lee Dennis of New Orleans made sure he didn’t miss the event. He was scheduled to work an early morning shift at his job, but asked a co-worker to switch shifts, so he could come to get screened for hypertension. “I want to live a healthier life, a longer life,” he said. “All these doctors and other people here to help us. You’ve got to want to help yourself, and I’m going to help myself to the free services they’re offering.”
According to Dr. Whitfield, Some of the diagnoses included stage 4 breast cancer, nearly 90 percent of the patients left with a hypertension and diabetes diagnosis and there was one diagnosis of HIV.
Whitfield told The Louisiana Weekly that currently, New Orleans ranks No. 2, behind Miami in new HIV/AIDS cases. Baton Rouge is ranked No. 3.
Dr. Mark Alan Dery, an HIV/AIDS specialist from Tulane University Medical Center looked to not only provide prescriptions but preventative education to patients.
“The level of awareness in this city is grossly lacking,” Dr. Dery said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. Events like this are just the beginning.”
This article was originally published in the November 23, 2009 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper
|
