Augusta’s free health clinic reaches out to the Spanish-speaking community

Augusta, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – As National Hispanic Heritage Month approaches, we’re hearing from the Medical College of Georgia students holding a free health clinic for our local Spanish-speaking community.

The goal of the clinic is to reach those who may not have easy access to health care and are dealing with potential language barriers.

This clinic is available to people living below the poverty level or without health insurance.

It is mostly run by MCG students who tell us how this clinic serves the community and why it is so important. Students working at Clinica Latina are providing care to underserved populations.

“We’re their primary caregivers, and so we get to see different types of care and serve a community that doesn’t often have that opportunity,” said Simon Miller, coordinator of operations and outreach.

One of the barriers to this care is language, and this is a gap that this clinic is working to address. The interpretive coordinator often leads to patients who do not want to receive critical preventive care.

Costs can also be a concern.

Samantha Brenner, ObGene, HIV Coordinator, said: “Allowing them that opportunity to see a doctor and get care for free is really important. If not, their health may worsen as they cannot afford it.

“If you don’t get care in time, you end up in the emergency room and the cost is going to go up,” said Dr. William Salazar, medical director, Clinica Latina, Future Centro Medico.

Salazar said it’s an opportunity to learn by teaching students in-depth about working in a clinic. But most important to them is the opportunity for service.

“This clinic is very important because this is an opportunity to help people who have never had services before,” Miller said. Who may not have access to care.

All the students we talked to said they are excited to serve the community in this way. Visit someone who meets the criteria and is interested in making an appointment Latin Clinic. If you are good at interpreting, you can also volunteer.

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