Operation Border Health Preparedness offers no-cost healthcare at five RGV Locations

The Texas Department of State Health Services celebrates the 25^th anniversary this month of the Operation Border Health Preparedness exercise, with no-cost health clinics planned at five different locations for South Texas residents to utilize. Clinics will be open and available to community members from July 22-26 with locations and times listed below.

"DSHS is extremely proud to celebrate this milestone with our partners and the communities that have embraced this exercise for a quarter of a century," said DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford, MD, MPH. "Services available to residents are extensive while the experience gained by communities and emergency planners will help with disaster preparation and response for the future."

In 2023, OBHP provided 27,427 health services to 6,641 patients during the exercise. The top health services provided included: vital signs screenings (6,301); immunizations (4,000); hearing tests (2,946); visual screenings (2,918); and medical exams (2,904). Veterinary services were also offered last year, with 1,016 animals serviced, including 1,785 vaccines administered.

Working at last year's exercise were 92 DSHS staff, 129 local health department staff, 100 Texas military personnel and 829 volunteers.

All five clinic sites this year will offer blood pressure screenings, general medical exams, immunizations, sports physicals, vision and hearing screenings, and social services. Many other services, like diabetes screenings, dental services, optometrist service to include eyeglasses, and liver function testing, are available only at specific clinic locations. The Raymondville site in Willacy County will again have limited veterinary services available (limited to 200 daily, with 125 on Friday). Services vary from location to location, so visit Services at Operation Border Health Preparedness (OBHP) 2024 or call 2-1-1 to confirm which services are offered at each specific location.

Partnering with DSHS this year are Hidalgo County Health and Human Services, Cameron County Public Health, Willacy County, Starr County, Laredo Public Health, Texas Military Department, Texas State Guard, Texas A&M University, local nursing schools and other nonprofit groups.

LOCATIONS

Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Brownsville: Rivera High School, 6955 Ruben M. Torres Blvd.

Laredo: United South High School-9^th Grade Campus, 3819 Aguanieve Dr.

Raymondville: Raymondville High School, 601 FM 3168

Rio Grande City: Veterans Middle School, 2700 W. Eisenhower Rd.

San Juan: PSJA Early College High School, 805 W. Ridge Rd.

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