CALDWELL, Ohio (09/11/16) — Ohio National Guard medical professionals were in Noble County Sept. 10-11 for GuardCare, an annual event that enables medically underserved communities to receive free health screenings, basic lab work and immunizations.
“It shows the community that we care and that we are there for them,” said Staff Sgt. Justin Linhart with the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment. “It brings together the Ohio Department of Health, the local county health department and the Ohio National Guard, both Army and Air, and has them all working hand in hand.”
GuardCare began in 1995, when Congress authorized the use of National Guard personnel to support medically underserved communities. In the more than two decades since, GuardCare has provided service for more than 13,000 Ohioans in 18 counties. Services have included physical examinations; vision, hearing and dental exams; cardiovascular health checks; laboratory screenings; and childhood and adult immunizations.
“Every year, the Ohio National Guard, the Ohio Department of Health, and a local health department partner with (one another) for a weekend to provide health services to Ohioans in medically underserved communities,” said Richard Hodges, director of the Ohio Department of Health. “This year's event was hosted by the Noble County Health Department, and Health Commissioner Shawn Ray and his staff did a great job."
Recognizing the value of GuardCare, the Noble County School District deferred mandatory school immunizations until the day after the event, allowing local residents to use the services as opposed to paying out of pocket.
“It’s one of the reasons for the National Guard,” Linhart said. “It brings together that sense of community for the local residents to know we are there.” |
