Volunteer Clinic Helps Uninsured In Chatham County

An organization that has helped more than 80,000 Chatham County residents since opening is moving out of its traditional comfort zone to open its arms to refugees. Community Health Mission is a private, nonprofit organization that provides access to primary health care, health promotion and education services to adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who are uninsured and live in Chatham County. By working with the Lutheran Services of Georgia’s Refugee and Immigration Services, Community Health Mission will take in Burmese, Iraqi, Iranian and Afghan refugees as patients in the near future. Many of these refugees have been forced to leave their home countries because of war, environmental disasters, political persecution or religious or ethnic intolerance. The executive director of the health mission, Miriam Rittmeyer, is working to begin the screening process for the refugees. Seven patients and their families will find a new primary care home at the mission in the coming weeks, and the organization will aid other refugees as they make their way to Savannah. Deidre Harrison, program manager of refugee services for Lutheran Services of Georgia, says the health mission exemplifies the community partnership they want. “We’re excited to expand our community partnership and get clients involved with more providers in the area,” said Harrison.