Free Health Care Clinic for Uninsured Returns to New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- During this time of crisis with oil in the Gulf of Mexico, the area's uninsured residents will be able to receive free medical care during a two-day free health clinic in New Orleans on Tuesday, August 31, and Wednesday, September 1. The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) will sponsor the free clinic at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

"This free clinic will be held exactly five years after Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath devastated New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast," NAFC Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux said. "At that time, thousands of people whose homes were flooded gathered at the convention center in search of help. Five years later, as an oil-related disaster threatens the livelihoods of many of the area's residents, those who still need help will find free medical care there and be connected to additional resources available to them."

This free clinic is not just for the sick but also for anyone who is uninsured and has not seen a doctor recently. All participants will receive preventive primary medical care and be connected to the area's safety-net providers.

This will be the eighth in a series of large C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinics held around the country to bring together physicians and other health care professionals, as well as non-medical volunteers, to serve the needs of thousands of people who might otherwise go without medical care. Since last September, more than 8,000 uninsured patients received treatment at C.A.R.E. Clinics in Houston, New Orleans, Little Rock, Kansas City, Hartford and Atlanta. Another C.A.R.E. clinic is scheduled for Aug. 4 in Washington, D.C.

Both medical and non-medical volunteers are needed to participate in this two-day free clinic. Information on the event and how to register is available online at: http://www.regonline.com/NOLACARE. Volunteers are needed not only on the days of the event, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, but also to help with set up on Aug. 30. Uninsured patients can make appointments by calling 877-236-7617.

The clinic will operate on Aug. 31 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Sept. 1 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Volunteers hours will be on Aug. 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (set-up), August 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sept. 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

SOURCE National Association of Free Clinics