see video below

[Best Syndication News] Free healthcare was given to hundreds of people in need at the Wise County Fairgrounds in Wise, Virginia from July 24 – 26th by a non-profit organization called Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corp. This organization provides free healthcare, dental care, and eye care to remote locations in the United States.

The organization consists of doctors, nurses and support workers that volunteer their time without pay and the medical supplies and vehicles are all donated by the supporters of the cause. There are around 2,700 people that were seeking treatment during the three-day RAM event.

The coverage of the event by the media was an eye opener as this is the United States and people lined up early to get a chance to been treated and seen by a professional.

A report by NPR said that some in need of medical care showed up two days before the health fair opened and slept in their cars and tents and in the back of pickup trucks hoping to be seen when the event opened on Friday.

A reporter for AP said that as people arrived they were given numbers and started to line up as early as 4 a.m. If they didn't get care that they were seeking because the doctors ran out of time that day, they would often times spend the night in their cars and come back the next day hoping for their turn.

NPR said that this has been going on for the past 10 years at the Wise County Fairgrounds during the end of July. The doctors use sanitized horse stalls as make shift examination rooms. They use a poultry barn to house optometry equipment. The dental offices are located in the open-air pavillion full of dozens of dental chairs and lamps.

If you need an Xray they have an semi-truck trailer that is converted into a portable X-Ray facility. You can get your denture made at a concession stand and the eyeglasses are made in two huge trailers.

Check out the video coverage to the Health Care Event below.

By: Marlene Donor

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other information

Wise County Healthcare Fair 2009 YouTube Video

BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | Preview: Wendell Potter pt. 1 YouTube Video

BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | Preview: Wendell Potter pt 2 | PBS YouTube Video