Free Health, Dental and Vision Care Today through June 10

Maui County News Release

Free health, dental and vision care will be offered to residents of Molokai over the next four days. The program will be held on Molokai at Kaunakakai Elementary School from June 7-10. June 7, the clinic will be open from noon to 5 p.m., June 8-9 open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and June 10 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Performing the health care services will be approximately 400 uniformed personnel including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ophthalmologists, dentists and others from active and reserved ranks of the armed forces around the U.S. The military personnel will be participating in a rapid deployment exercise named Tropic Care 2013. Maui County was selected as the designated location for this free program after Mayor Arakawa signed an official request to the U.S. Department of Defense in 2011.

The free clinics will be open to all residents. Identification will not be required, and no fees will be charged. People can expect health services that include physical examinations, vision checks (and single-lens glasses), basic dental care and nutrition counseling, among others. The clinics will not accept advance appointments and participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

“This program will provide vital health care services for residents, especially those who don’t have or cannot afford any medical insurance,” Mayor Alan Arakawa said. “We are fortunate to have received a green light with the application we submitted many months ago, and I am confident that hundreds, if not thousands, of Maui County residents will benefit from these services.”

Tropic Care is being made possible through collaboration between Mayor Arakawa, the State of Hawaii Department of Health and the Innovative Readiness Training Program of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. Last year Tropic Care helped an estimated 12,000 Kauai residents receive roughly $1 million in free health services, according to military officials.

“This opportunity will allow the Department of Health to save thousands of dollars and collect substantial and important data to map the landscape of Maui County’s health status,” added Dr. Lorrin Pang, Health Officer of the Maui County District. “Tropic Care is a huge undertaking but our Federal, State and County levels of government are doing this so the community can reap the benefits.”

Joe Pontanilla, Mayor’s Office staff member tasked with helping coordinate the program, noted that if someone needs glasses, they can have a pair made for free. “Military personnel will also be equipped to administer basic lab tests, dispense medication, fill cavities and many other important health care services,” Pontanilla said. “This is truly a blessing for our community.”

For more information click on mauicounty.gov/TropicCare or call the Mayor’s Office at 270-7855.