Special to the NEWS
BROWNSVILLE, TX—This year marks a significant milestone for Operation Border Health Preparedness (OBHP) as the initiative celebrates its 25th anniversary of dedicated service to the border communities of South Texas. For a quarter of a century, OBHP has been at the forefront of enhancing health preparedness and providing vital medical services to those in need of healthcare along the border region.
As organizers commemorate this milestone, they’re reflecting on the remarkable journey of OBHP and its impact on the lives of countless individuals and families. From humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of border health initiatives, OBHP has remained steadfast in its mission to promote health equity and resilience in our communities.
OBHP in South Texas was initiated to enhance health preparedness along the border region. Its history traces back to its inception in response to the healthcare challenges faced by communities in South Texas. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, OBHP has evolved significantly, thanks to the collaborative efforts of various partners and stakeholders.
Initially launched to address critical health needs, OBHP has since expanded its scope to provide a comprehensive range of services. Partnering with organizations such as the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), healthcare providers, and community organizations, OBHP has been able to offer public health services to underserved populations in the region.
Through OBHP, residents of South Texas have gained access to immunizations, preventive dental care, vision and hearing screenings, and other essential healthcare services. Its enduring mission is to ensure that all individuals in the border region receive the necessary medical attention and resources to maintain their well-being and resilience in the face of health challenges.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) provides pop-up medical clinics across the United States, delivering quality dental, vision, and general medical care at no cost to patients. RAM clinics operate as community leaders collaborate with RAM to host clinics in their communities. Individuals in need of dental, vision, or general medical care attend the free RAM event. Licensed medical professionals and support volunteers strive to assist as many people as possible.
Service includes dental: at RAM’s free pop-up clinics, patients receive dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, and dental X-rays. For many, this is their only access to vital dental care. Vision: RAM patients can undergo eye exams, eye health evaluations, receive eyeglass prescriptions, and select frames for on-site fabrication in OBHP’s mobile vision lab. Medical: all RAM patients have access to various medical services based on clinic volunteer specialties, including podiatrists, family doctors, women’s health, and more.
All services are provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. No ID is required.
The effort is also reliant on three branches of the military in Texas: the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard. They have been actively involved in Operation Lone Star (OLS) and Operation Border Health Preparedness (OBHP), primarily offering medical services, security/crowd control, and communications support.
Dr. Brian Smith, the Regional Medical Director for DSHS Health Service Region 11 covering 19 southernmost counties in South Texas, collaborated with resources from DSHS and the US Navy to coordinate OBHP’s services. Over time, the program gained popularity and received increased support from agencies across Texas and the federal government. This led to the expansion of services to include immunizations, preventive dental care, and vision/hearing screenings.
Initially called Operation Lone Star, the operation’s name was later changed to OBHP in 2022. OBHP started in 1999 as a request for training in South Texas by the US Navy and Marine Corps Reserves to Dr. Brian Smith at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Due to limited healthcare access along the border, DSHS used OBHP to offer essential medical services to underserved South Texas residents.
The location of this year’s event in Cameron County is Rivera Early College High School, 6955 Ruben M Torres Blvd, Brownsville, and will be held from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri., July 22-26, 2024. For more information, call (956) 247-3650 or email andrea.gomez@co.cameron.tx.us.
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