To combat the health problems brought on in neighborhoods flooded by Hurricane Harvey, the Harris County Public Health Department has put together a Mobile Wellness Unit, and dispatched it for a day into neighborhoods with significant flooding.
The initiative is known as “Taking Public Health to the Public” and provides much-needed services and supplies directly in the communities devastated by the recent flooding.
This week the Mobile Unit was assigned to Kingwood on Monday, and Galena Park on Tuesday. Other sites will be announced later. The parking lot of Baggett Center, on Keene Street, was the location of the Wellness Unit serving a large population in surrounding communities as well as Galena Park.
The following services were available free at this location:
– Immunizations, including tetanus, flu and childhood immunizations
– Dental screenings and supplies
– Wellness screenings, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests
– WIC services and nutritional information
– Mosquito control and education
– Food safety and clean water education
– Free Pet food and microchipping for dogs and cats
In addition, bags of groceries with bulk canned vegetables, hand cleaner, and crackers were also given out as basic subsistence.
More photos and information are available on page 8 of this issue. See @hcphtx on Twitter for more scheduled stops.
