The National Guard’s Innovative Readiness Training programwill offer medical, dental, optometric and mental health exams for free in Dover.
Nearly 250 National Guard service members from several states have been deployed to Dover on a training mission that will simultaneously provide no-cost medical services to residents who are uninsured, underinsured or simply in need of care.
Pop-up clinics focusing on medical, dental, optometry, mental health and nutritional services are operating from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day through Sunday, Aug. 9 at North Dover Elementary School, Towne Point Elementary School and South Dover Elementary School.
Services are available to anybody over the age of 2, including out-of-state residents.
While appointments, proof of insurance and identification are not required to receive service, mask wearing is, according to a National Guard press release.
Care will be provided by the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training program.
Specific services being offered include basic medical and wellness exams, psychological services, optical exams and eyeglasses prescriptions, dental exams, extractions and fillings.
While working, service members will be receiving training for “deployed environments,” according to the press release.
Dover was selected as the site for the training mission because 25% of the city’s population of 38,000 falls below the poverty line.
The Delaware National Guard has participated in the Innovative Readiness Training program three times in the last four years, although this year is the first time it is hosting the event.
“We are going to have a huge impact on the community through medical, dental and optometry care,” said Capt. Daniel Collins, the IRT’s operations officer in charge from the Delaware Army National Guard’s 31st Civil Support Team.
Clinics can be found at:
- North Dover Elementary School, 855 College Road, Dover 19904
- Towne Point Elementary School, 629 Buckson Drive, Dover 19901
- South Dover Elementary School, 955 South State St., Dover 19904
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.
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