NEWS RELEASE
Albert
Hawkins
Executive Commissioner
Date: July 16, 2008
Contact: Dagoberto Garza (956) 316-8236
Operation Lone Star Brings Free Medical Care to Communities
AUSTIN – Operation Lone Star, which provided health care to more than 13,000 South Texas residents in just two weeks last year, is expanding this summer to provide free health clinics in even more locations.
From July 28 through Aug. 8, the Texas Military Forces, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and other agencies will set up eight medical sites across seven South Texas counties – Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Starr, Zapata, Webb and Jim Hogg.
This will be the tenth year for Operation Lone Star, which provides free medical and dental services to low-income families in South Texas as well as information on a range of state benefits, including Medicaid and food stamps.
“People turn out for free medical services, and we also tell them about state programs that will provide year-round access to health care,” said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins. “Operation Lone Star provides us with an excellent way to reach out to Texans who can benefit from our services.”
State health and human services workers will provide information about health and wellness programs to help people with disabilities, prevent substance abuse, and protect vulnerable children and adults. Local nonprofit organizations also will have staff available to provide information about their services.
“Every year, we see thousands of people along the border take advantage of this program,” said Leonel Vela of HHSC’s Office of Border Affairs. “For some it may be their only visit to see a doctor all year. That means the information about state services could ultimately be as important to border-area families as the medical care they receive.”
Operation Lone Star also serves as a way for state and local officials to train for a medical emergency. Setting up the two-week, multi-site clinics becomes a real-time exercise on how to respond to a public health crisis.
Operation Lone Star sites will provide care from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. For more information, call 2-1-1.
Operation Lone Star Sites for July 28–Aug. 1:
Brownsville: Raul A Besteiro Middle School, 6280 Southmost Road
La Joya: Cesar Chavez Middle School, Expressway 83 and Showers Road
Raymondville: Raymondville High School, One Bearkat Lane
San Juan: PSJA High School, 805 W. Ridge Road
Operation Lone Star Sites for Aug. 4-8:
Laredo: United South High School, 4001 Avenue Los Presidentes
Rio Grande City: Fort Ringgold Middle School, Fort Ringgold Campus
Zapata: Zapata Middle School, 17th Avenue and Carla Street
Operation Lone Star Site for Aug. 4-6:
Hebbronville: Hebbronville Middle School, 910 N. Willhelma
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