Volunteer Medical Professionals Offer Free Basic Health Care

All of the country, many cities are getting hit hard with brutal weather of snow storms, and freezing temperatures. Have anyone thought about the homeless- how they are surviving in the midst of it? It has been reported that on any given night, over 2000 homeless people are on the cold freezing streets of Cincinnati.

The Drop Inn Center doors are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to anyone in need of its services. On average, they provide shelter to 250 men and women each and every day. During the winter months, the Center usually reaches its capacity to sleep 300 people each night. In a typical year, they serve more than 130,000 meals and distribute toiletries, towels, blankets and clothes to thousands of homeless residents. Volunteer medical professionals provide basic health care at no cost to residents six days a week.

One such medical professional is University of Cincinnati Dr. Joe Kiesler a philanthropist who makes regular visits at the Drop Inn Center with a mobile medical center.
Dr. Kiesler, physicians, med students and nurses go to the different health centers in Cincinnati to serve the homeless in a mobile van that's a community health center on wheels.

Because the homeless do not come for help or are not able to come, Dr Kiesler and other physicians go to them. Doctors said the flu, pneumonia and other diseases spread quickly in a population that tends to be out in the cold or huddling with dozens in close quarters.

When the weather turns cold, there is an increase of frostbite and hyperthermia in this winter storm. Two men had to be hospitalized and one man suffered such frostbite that he had to have his toes amputated.

These are not just older adults that are homeless - shelters are seeing more young people on the streets without a place to stay. Between 1300 and 1500 people are homeless each night and 25% of these are the youth ranging in ages from 10 and up. Because they are in desperate situations of trying to take care of themselves, they are forced to steal and become involved in all kinds of illegal activities to survive. Many young homeless females see pregnancy as a solution because they can get government assistance. Some are prostituting themselves for a place to stay and have food to eat. Their anger and violent attitudes is a protection against the dangers they encounter on the streets.

We are thankful that we have the centers, agencies and volunteers that offer assistance to the homeless who lives are at risk and desperate. Let us be mindful in these uncertain times with the high rise of unemployment, foreclosures and business closings, that it could have been you outdoors with no food, no clothes and no roof over your head. Perhaps, some of us can give more than a coin or a dollar to the homeless, by giving of ourselves to serve those in need, or pointing them in the right direction to get help.