New MOWA clinic expanding rural healthcare access in Mobile, Washington Counties
MOUNT VERNON, Ala. (WKRG) — A new health clinic opens in rural Mobile County soon, and officials say they need the community’s support to keep it going.
If you live with or near the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, the only healthcare option on the weekend is the emergency room.
That’s set to change soon. Tribal members are set to re-open their old health clinic with new gear and new staff next weekend on March 23rd. The clinic was closed 20 years ago but in that time their community doubled in size.
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The clinic will provide vaccines and be able to accommodate most basic healthcare needs.
As rural healthcare access shrinks, this is one small option to help people in underserved communities.
“Well, I think it’s important because it’s a lack of health care accessibility, again, not only for tribal members but for the people who reside in these communities. As I mentioned, transportation is an issue for some of our people. They have a problem getting to the Saraland area,” said Project Manager Maggie Rivers.
They had the ribbon cutting last weekend and were originally slated to open this Saturday but had to delay it by another week. Once up and running it will be open on weekends only from 9 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon. It’s open for anyone in the community not just the tribe. It’s being funded by a 2020 Alabama Heath Department grant but that runs out in June, they are optimistic they will get more state funding but the goal is to be self-sustaining.
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The clinic is located at 1080 Red Fox Road West in Mount Vernon, Alabama. The clinic’s phone number is 251-829-9032.
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