Operation Lone Star open for business

Operation Lone Star 2008 is "open and looking for business."

The 10th annual summer project brings together upwards of 80 health professionals from Texas military forces to provide free medical services to uninsured and underinsured residents in the Rio Grande Valley.

"Lone Star is on, we are here and we are looking to see people," said Col. Joel Henness, Operation Lone Star joint-task force commander. "We are bringing care to communities."

Set up throughout Besteiro Middle School at 6280 Southmost Blvd., doctors and nurses will offer residents immunizations, sports physicals, diabetic screening and dental care among other health services. The program also has more than 30 civilian health professionals working as volunteers.

Patients will be accepted until Friday, before the project moves on to other cities in the Valley. Two other branches of the project are also currently open in Pharr and San Juan.

As of Monday morning, the program in Brownsville had served approximately 170 visitors but doctors had expected nearly 800, Lt. Greg Taber said. Patients may have been slow to come in because some residents are still waiting for power and electricity at their homes after Hurricane Dolly hit last week, Taber said.

Antonio Vasquez sat with his wife and two daughters in one of the school's hallways as they waited for physicals. They came two years ago to the event and didn't want to pass up the opportunity to receive free medical services, Vasquez said.

"There are many people in this country who don't have access to medical services because they don't have insurance or it's too expensive to pay a doctor," Diana Fuentes, Vasquez's wife, said in Spanish. "Here the service is quick, the staff is amiable, and they are well prepared to help."

Fuentes said the program was so helpful in the community she wished it would come to the city every six months instead of only once a year.

Jennifer Maldonado and her younger brother, Kevin, were also at the school to receive physicals. She plays basketball, softball and basketball for the middle school's sports teams and Kevin plays on the soccer team, Maldonado said.

"This is good because my mom doesn't have to waste so much money, and I can play on the teams," she said.

If you go:

Besteiro Middle School

6280 Southmost Blvd.

Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Services offered:

Immunization (childhood and adult tetanus) exams

Sports physicals

Blood pressure screening

Medical screening referrals

Preventive health education

Hearing and vision exams

Restorative fillings

Extractions

Oral health education

Diabetic screenings

Limited pharmacy