A South Florida school will soon be more than just a place of learning. It will be a place where the ill go to get better.
A new primary health care clinic at Miami Northwestern Senior High School will not only care for sick students, but also tend to sick residents in the community.
Its goal is to serve as a hub for children and families in Liberty City, an area affected by high rates of obesity, diabetes, aids, teen pregnancy and infant mortality.
"This is both an investment in our children, in our school, and a direct benefit to our entire community," said Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of MDCPS.
"So anyone that wants to make this their medical home will be able to do so at this particular school site," one school official said.
FIU will partly oversee the clinic, thanks to a large grant from the government. The university will provide a team of certified nurses who will be available, not only for consultations to anyone who's sick, but also to administer things like vaccines, flu shots and health screenings.
Carvalho said opening the clinic is a major step forward in ensuring the future success of Northwestern students.
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"We know that children who are not healthy struggle to learn, and we know that parents who have no access to good, quality health care, struggle in their own lives," Carvalho said.
The clinic will treat students during the day and the medically-underserved Liberty City community from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. The clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Not to mention, students at Northwestern who are interested in the medical field have a facility readily-available with mentors.
"I'm also part of the medical program here at my school, and through this, this health resource here at our school, we now have easy access to have practices here on the campus and hands-on activities," said Sara Saint Just, senior.
The clinic will officially start taking patients on Saturday, Jan. 9.
