PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - A military medical mission is still prescribed for the Bootheel, just a little bit later.
Operation Healthy Delta will now be conducted Sept. 11-24 in Charleston, Caruthersville and surrounding communities.
Joel Evans, president and CEO of the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation, explained the reason for the change is the uncertainty in what the federal budget will look like beyond April 28.
DAEOC is working with the Delta Regional Authority and the military to bring the Innovative Readiness Training program to southeast Missouri. Most IRT projects are funded through a variety of sources including government budgets and private resources.
“Until Congress has some funding instrument to provide funding beyond (April) 28 they felt it advantageous to move to a September date,” Evans said. “It is unfortunate the date was pushed back but the services will still be the same.”
The IRT program provides basic medical and optical exams, the ability to provide prescription glasses as well as dental exams that include extractions and fillings for all residents on a first-come, first-served basis. All the services are offered at no charge.
Members of the military volunteer their services for the IRT program. The program in September will be led by the 131st Bomb Wing Missouri Air National Guard based at Whiteman Air Force Base near Kansas City and at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, and the Expeditionary Medical Facility Great Lakes One based out of Great Lakes, Ill.
“We are grateful to our military personnel for being flexible and willing to provide no-cost healthcare services in the Delta,” DRA Chairman Chris Masingill said in a news release. “This program is about Americans serving Americans, something that makes us all proud. We recognize the budget issues in Washington have forced the military to reschedule but our goals of delivering healthcare to Delta residents remains the same.”
Evans said DAEOC is working to bring in local partners to provide additional services to augment what the military will do.
“The local outpouring of support has been tremendous — everything from a mobile food bank and a blood drive to two additional mobile dental units that can handle overflow and provide services beyond what military can provide,” Evans said. He added there will also be pharmaceutical students on site to provide health and medication-related education.
He anticipates the September IRT will serve as many as 5,000 people. All services are provided regardless of residency or income.
“Our military members are proud to volunteer and offer these important health services to communities in the Delta region while meeting their military training requirements,” said Capt. Jennifer Fagan, the Air National Guard Medical IRT project manager. “These missions help demonstrate the commitment our military has to our nation, and further strengthen the relationship between our service members and American communities. IRT projects are cost-effective and primarily funded by existing military service training budgets.”