MARTIN Co., Ky. (WYMT) – Women in the Inez community of Martin County now have more access to women’s healthcare.
Healthcare professionals recognized the partnership between the Martin County Health Department and the ARH Mobile Health Clinic. They celebrated the achievement with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday.
Martin County Public Health Director Eric Mills was at the ribbon-cutting. He said this is transformational for women’s healthcare in Appalachia.
“This gives us an opportunity to provide this care that many times women have to wait weeks if not months to receive an appointment or have access to that physician in even an urban setting because OBGYN care is so hard to get access to,” Mills said.
Emily Hammonds is a Physician Assistant with the ARH Mobile Clinic. She said services include pap smears, annual exams, and more.
“Coming from like a small rural area in Eastern Kentucky, I’ve seen that people don’t have the transportation or there’s not enough specialist clinics nearby and they have a hard time because they have to travel,” Hammonds said. “Hopefully, this will solve that issue.”
Mills said providing access to women’s healthcare can be challenging, especially in rural communities.
“Now it’s mom’s turn to take care of their own health,” Mills said. “It’s mom’s turn, and we’re making it convenient to have access to that care right here in our health department.”
System Director of Community Development at ARH, Danielle Harmon, said this will make it easier for women to get the help they need.
“What we really want is for women to come and have their pap smears and have their regular check-ups,” Harmon said. “Get your mammogram and really take care of yourself because you are your best healthcare provider.”
The Mobile Health Clinic will see patients on the last Tuesday of every month from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will be parked at the Martin County Health Department.
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