St. Joseph's/Candler, Georgia Southern University and the U.S. Military will provide no-cost healthcare to thousands of people in need now through May 18.
Hundreds of troops and volunteers with medical expertise will be in Savannah to provide medical, dental, vision and veterinary services as part of an annual military training exercise. Georgia Southern and St. Joseph's/Candler will provide support for the exercise and arrange follow-up care.
Dubbed Operation Empower Health — Greater Savannah, the exercise is the 2018 flagship of the Department of Defense's annual Innovative Readiness Training Program.
The goal is to not only provide valuable training for the military, but also make available important medical services to those in Southeast Georgia who might not otherwise have access.
"Operation Empower Health — Greater Savannah provides our service members with unique, real-world training opportunities to prepare for military missions at home and abroad," said Lt. Col. Andrew Magnet of the 165th Medical Group of the 165th Air Lift Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard. "This IRT mission will bring our total force together, as Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines from across the country employ their respective areas of military expertise to plan and conduct training, and refine mission essential skills."
Knowing the need in the community for these services, St. Joseph's/Candler and Georgia Southern University jointly applied to bring the training to Savannah. Key partners in Operation Empower Health are the City of Savannah, Garden City and Savannah State University, all of which will be providing space for the medical services as well as a place for the troops to bed down and eat.
For more information for the community, please call (912) 819-5300 or visit www.sjchs.org/empower.
Medical services
➤ When: May 10–18
➤ For who: 18 and older
➤ Hours: Services begin at 8 a.m. Last patients should be checked in at 4 p.m. No proof of income, residency or picture ID is required for services.
➤ Where: Savannah Civic Center, 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave.; Georgia Southern University — Armstrong Campus, University Hall, 11935 Abercorn St.; Garden City Recreational Department, 160 Priscilla D. Thomas Road; Savannah State University, Tiger Arena, 3219 College St.
➤ Services offered
Medical
▲ Physical exams
▲ Sports exams
▲ Patient education
Dental
▲ Extractions
▲ Fillings
Vision
▲ Eye exams
▲ Prescriptions
▲ Fabrication of glasses
Veterinary
▲ General exams
▲ Spay/neuter (only at Civic Center)
▲ Rabies vaccinations