Local students collaborate to open free weekly health clinic

By Meghan Groff

Students in medical fields from three local schools are coming together to provide free health care for those in need.

“It's free, you don't need a health care or an ID, and you don't need an appointment to see us,” said Holly Mathias with the Halifax Outreach Prevention Education Support, or HOPES.

Mathias told NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show the weekly Sunday clinic on Lemarchant Street is a first of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

Students from Dalhousie University, Mount Saint Vincent University, and the Medavie Health Education program have teamed up to provide medical, nursing, dentistry, occupational therapy, pharmaceutical, nutritional, social work, health administration and paramedical services.

She said some of the people they see have chronic illnesses, and may not need to go to an emergency room, but that was often where they'd end up.

“For example they might be a diabetic, they might have issues with their feet, or keeping their blood sugar at a stable level,” she explained. “Not only would they need to see a doctor, but they's also want to see a dietitian to help control what they're eating and make sure they have access to affordable, nutritious food, and then they might want to see a dentist.”

Mathias said the large group of students want to make a difference in the community.

They're trying to get the word out so they can offer their services to more people, and it seems to be working, the clinic saw a record number of people this past weekend.

HOPES is located in Dalhousie's LeMarchant Place building, easily accessible by bus, and is open from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
 

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