Mobile health unit aims to bring Latinx coronavirus case numbers down

National and local trends show the Latinx community is testing positive for coronavirus at a higher rate than any other group, and Durham is no exception.

But there’s a free service on wheels aimed to bring those local case numbers down.

Every Monday and Friday at El Centro Hispano in Durham, a mobile health unit offers members of the Hispanic community free health services.

Pilar Rocha-Goldbar with El Centro Hispano said the unit has seen 500 patients since March.

“People can come, and we do free COVID screening and blood pressure, BMI and glucose, and if any of those are altered, the physician will see the patient and then follow up,” says Rocha-Goldbar.

The mobile health unit is on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s no appointment and no documentation required.

Rocha-Goldberg says it (delete extra space) bridges the gaps between language and cultural barriers at a time when comfort and trust are most needed.

“What we see is that, even though there are other places where they can get tested, it’s complicated to get to it. You need to get to a website, or if you call, they don’t answer in Spanish. Or sometimes you have to fill out a form beforehand, and in some cases they ask for documentation. So we think it’s needed,” explained Rocha-Goldberg.

However, the mobile health unit is able to serve only 11 patients per day.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has stepped up and recently donated $130,000 to El Centra Hispano. The money will fund more testing and maintain the mobile unit.

“Sixty-two percent of all cases of COVID were Latinos, and we see that across the state, and it’s increasing almost every day,” says Gustavo Bernal, with Blue Cross.

El Centro Hispano has another mobile health unit stationed in Raleigh Monday through Friday. It’s not free, but there is a discount for people referred by El Centro.

The testing is just one piece of the puzzle. El Centro also offers rent, food and utility assistance.