Flying Doctors Land in Coachella Valley
Hundreds of doctors converged in the east Coachella Valley Saturday to help families in desperate need. It was all part of the ‘Flying Doctors’ event that provides free medical and dental care services.
“There’s about 430,000 in the Coachella Valley that are still without insurance,” said Frank Sisneroz, lead coordinator of Path to Health, an educational resource for health care.
Hundreds of those people still uninsured lined up early Saturday morning at Desert Mirage High School, to get the free health screenings, dental and vision exams.
“I got here at 4:30 in the morning and there was already a very long line, people with tents, sleeping bags, children,” said Lucy Moreno, organizer of the event.
Doctors from all over the state fly into the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal twice a year. The health fair also educates families of the resources that are available to them for preventative care.
“First and foremost to connect them to local services to local community agencies like clinicas, and other agencies in our valley so they can continue health services,” said Moreno.
The flying doctors, as they are known, first came to the Valley 20 years ago and right away saw the need for medical services. Since then, the event has continued to grow with local doctors, dentists, and resource agencies joining the health fair.
“Everyone is so gracious. Everyone appreciates an opportunity to be seen, to consult a doctor, to get pain relieved, if they have a dental pain, or some glasses if they need glasses,” said Moreno.
More than 400 doctors, organizations and volunteers participated. Organizers say more than 700 people showed up to take advantage of the services.
“I really love that people from all over the place come to help this community. It’s amazing how much commitment they have, how much enthusiasm they have about it,” said Nancy Aispuro, a volunteer with the Coachella Valley High School Health Academy.
“They’ve recognized the need in our area, and their willing to travel and spend their time on a voluntary basis, is just heart warming, said Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit.
If you missed the health fair, the another Flying Doctors event will be held in the spring.
“It takes really everyone’s grain of salt to make it happen, and so we’re very fortunate that we can do this,” Moreno said.
