Gov. Edwards thankful; more than 1,000 local patients served
Published 12:12 am Wednesday, August 2, 2017
- East St. John High School Head Custodian Wanda McGuffy accepts appreciation from Gov. John Bel Edwards for her work making sure the school was kept in order while being used by the soldiers and other staff with the Louisiana Cares initiative.
RESERVE — Gov. John Bel Edwards stopped by East St. John High School recently to tour the free medical clinic set up at the school and to recognize Principal Tabari Simon, Head Custodian Wanda McGuffy and the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District for their work to ensure the residents of St. John the Baptist Parish had access to important health services.
The “Louisiana Cares” clinic was part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training program, which prepares military personnel for wartime missions while providing healthcare services to underserved communities.
St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District Assistant Superintendent Quentina Timoll, left, East St. John High School Principal Tabari Simon and School Board President Albert “Ali” Burl III accept a token of appreciation from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, center.
In addition to hosting the “Louisiana Cares” clinic July 12-22, the school served as living quarters for the soldiers involved in the effort.
In additional, Parish President Natalie Robottom extended her gratitude to the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), the Department of Defense and Director Rhonda Lemons and the St. John Health and Human Services Department for hosting the successful two-week, medical, dental and eye clinic at East St. John High School.
The civil-military program, known as Innovative Readiness Training (IRT), offered general medical, dental and optometry services at no cost and no insurance in mid-July. Overall, there were more than 1,000 patients served and 3,666 procedures performed at the IRT with services in St. John Parish valued at over $250,000.
“I’d like to give praise to Ms. Brittney Lindberg, IRT Project Manager and Military Liaison with Delta Regional Authority for envisioning and coordinating the IRT clinic along with the U. S. Department of Defense for us,” Lemons said. “Because of this clinic, the lives of so many people were changed. I was indeed humbled when witnessing Dental Services. I personally want to thank the 45 people who assisted as volunteers. And of course, let me give a huge shout out to the community soldiers and my staff, for their dedication and enormous support. The IRT clinic operations could not have run smoothly without all of us working together.”
St. John Parish also recognized TNT Seafood Restaurant and Lounge and Avis Restaurant for sponsoring special appreciation events for the military staff and providers during their stay.
