The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is commemorating the 25th anniversary of Operation Border Health Preparedness (OBHP) with no-cost health clinics at five locations in South Texas. These clinics will be available to community members from July 22-26.
“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 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, servicing 1,016 animals and administering 1,785 vaccines.
Last year's exercise involved participation from 92 DSHS staff members, 129 local health department staff members, 100 Texas military personnel, and 829 volunteers.
This year’s clinic sites will offer blood pressure screenings, general medical exams, immunizations, sports physicals, vision and hearing screenings, and social services. Additional services such as diabetes screenings, dental services, optometrist services including eyeglasses provision and liver function testing are available only at specific locations. The Raymondville site in Willacy County will provide limited veterinary services daily.
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.
Clinic Locations:
- Brownsville: Rivera High School
- Laredo: United South High School-9th Grade Campus
- Raymondville: Raymondville High School
- Rio Grande City: Veterans Middle School
- San Juan: PSJA Early College High School
Clinic hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
