As part of the State budget, Gov. Charlie Crist reviewed and approved $2.5 million for the construction of a new health clinic in Miami’s Liberty City area. The project proposal made by Democrat Sen. Federica Wilson is part of a $12 million dollars plan aimed at solving the medical needs of one of the most overlooked communities in the City of Miami.
"This is true, Liberty City is a needed and overlooked community and I am not only determine, but willing and engage with this project" Sen. Wilson said.
According to Sen. Wilson, the plan also includes the replacement of three outdated facilities: the Juanita Mann Clinic, the Liberty City Health Center and the James E. Scott Center. Wilson explained that these are 30-year-old clinics that need remodeling and equipment in order to meet technological standards. Two of these medical centers have already closed their doors to the public and transferred their patients to adjacent hospitals.
For Karim Buttler, resident of Liberty city, open a new health center is a good idea because there are a lot of people that need help and treatment. He believes that the community needs health Centers that that are willing to help. For Buttler, the majority of small clinics does not really care for the people in the neighborhood, but instead only think of their monetary benefit.
“Just open that one up and see how things go, if the health center works, open up some more,” Buttler said.
According to Michael West, who also resides in Liberty City, most people in the community can’t afford to pay for health care. For West, the clinic should be free for the needy and for the kids.
“Look around, Look at the kids. They need medical care and people can’t afford to pay for a good health service for their sons and daughters,” west said.
The new clinic will comply with all the standards of eligibility. It will be open for everyone and depending on the income the patient will pay for the service. According to documents provided by Sen. Wilson Aid, Chauncey Graham, the advantages of the project comprise: better coordination of health services, early detection and treatment, reduction in health care costs and improved opportunities for public health education.
The facility will be a one-stop-shop streamlining services for Liberty City residents that currently are receiving care from one or more providers. The new construction of 35,280-square-foot will be located in two lots at NW 74th Street and NW 27th Avenue currently owned by the Office of Community and Economic Development of Miami-Dade County.
According to Lillian Rivera, Miami-Dade Health Department Administrator, the clinic will offer primary health care for the Liberty city community. Rivera also said that the clinic will be managed by the Miami-Dade Health department and it will have a staff from 60 to 100 employees between doctors, nurses and social workers.
“The plan has a total cost of $12 million, of course, we need more funding and we are going to propose $9.5 million more next march. Right now the money is going to be invested in the selection of contractors and architects in order to implement and develop the construction design.” Rivera said, “This is a wonderful thing that is happening for Liberty City and I promise that is going to become a reality. I want to thank Senator Wilson for her initiative and engagement in this project.”
The Miami-Dade Health Department expects the clinic to start operating by 2012.
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