Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for new bilingual health clinic on Milwaukee's south side

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday morning to commemorate a new bilingual health clinic on Milwaukee's south side.

The collaboration between 16th Street Community Health Centers and Milwaukee Public Schools, promises to offer both health and behavioral services, and it is the first one of its kind to be located inside a public school in Milwaukee.

"It injects humanity into the often-frightened face of medicine for those who need it most", said Ald. José G. Pérez.

The clinic is located inside South Division High School, becoming one of 24 schools in the Milwaukee area where medical and/or mental health services are provided. With guest speakers like Mayor Cavalier Johnson shedding light on the importance of inclusion.

"They care for and serve nearly 43,000 low-income Latino or diverse individuals each and every single year, and that number will only grow with the creation of this new and fantastic clinic," said Mayor Johnson.

South Division High School is said to be the largest bilingual high school in the state of Wisconsin. The medical director of 16th Street Community Health Centers, Dr. Emilia Arana said it promises to provide all sorts of services regardless of external factors.

"We are removing any barriers to care, language, financial insurance, immigration status, we are breaking those barriers and we bring quality healthcare," she said.

The new clinic will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Monday through Friday. It will offer a range of services -- from physicals to vaccines. Though it is only available for students and staff, that still means they will have the ability to serve thousands of people.