Photo: Jacqueline García/Real America News / Impremedia
Abelino Vásquez, from 61 years, he has been living in his car for three years and sometimes he stays with acquaintances or friends. While watching television, he found out that on Wednesday the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles would be offering the Day of Medical Services especially for homeless people.
The one-day event offered services such as registration for medical coverage, physical and dental check-ups as well as vaccines against covid-19.
“They did a physical and referred me to a clinic to do dental work,” said the immigrant of Mexican origin as he left the consulate. “It’s very good because they even sent me with lunch.”
Javier Islas, another undocumented immigrant from 61 years, said that he also found out about the event through the news and decided to come to get help applying for full Medi-Cal since since May 1 all immigrants low-income older than 50 years qualify to receive it.
“This is going to help me a lot because I needed glasses and once I went to get help and they told me no because my Medi-Cal was for an emergency and didn’t cover it, then they sent me to another place and another”, said Islas.
He said that he had lived on the street for more than two years after he had problems with his landlord and she threw him out. However, about three months ago he was referred to a program where they got him a small apartment to live in in the Chinatown area.
She said that living on the street was very difficult, especially at her age and now he is very happy to have a roof over his head.
He indicated that the help offered by the consulate is very important since the undocumented people rarely ask how to take care of their health for fear of immigration.
“I only went when I saw the mobile clinics to have the exam done, but nothing more”, said Islas.
Several of the people who received the service were invited to participate by a group of health promoters who are part of the Monseñor Romero Clinic. Among them was Martha González, who said that a few days before they had been in charge of distributing flyers to the nearby community and gave them information and answers to the concerns that people had.
“We explain that the services are free and you don’t need insurance, money, or make appointments,” González said.
The Mexican from 19 She said that for her it is a pride to be able to participate as a community promoter since she is following the legacy of Monsignor Romero, which is to help the most needy.
“I think we are doing very well mainly with the group of homeless people who they need it the most”, he indicated.
Associations in favor of the community
The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, through its Ventanilla de Salud, and in partnership with the Monseñor Oscar A. Romero Clinic held the event especially for the homeless and low-income people.
Elena Aragón, director of the health window, said that the Mexican consulate has become more than a place where Mexicans only arrive for a passport or a consular registration.
The Ventanilla de Salud program is a Mexican program available in approximately 51 United States consulates. The importance of the program with more than years of existence is to be able to improve the physical and mental health of the migrant community.
“Although It is the consulate of Mexico, all community services, especially health services, are available to everyone regardless of nationality or immigration status, gender, health insurance or income,” said Aragón.
Aragón said that during the year they make several alliances with important strategic partners such as health and academics to provide services to the community.
He added that some of the services offered at the Ventanilla de Salud are blood tests and urine completely free for those without health insurance.
They also have a mental health module where the interested party receives up to eight therapies for free with professionals. The second and third Thursday of the month HIV tests are offered and every Wednesday there is advice for health insurance coverage.
They have a partnership with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to provide workshops that talk about children’s physical health and mental as well as detect child abuse.
He added that in the future they plan to provide services to detect breast cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cooking classes and many other resources.
The consulate constantly promotes these and other services through its Facebook page.
People interested in any of these services can arrive without an appointment at the Health Window of the consulate located at 2401 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles 90057.
For more information call (213) 311-90057 or by email to vdslan@sre.gob.mx