Health Officials to Use Data from Operation Lone Star to Help Determine Disease Prevention Needs

There's one more day to take advantage of free health care through Operation Lone Star, the weeklong event wraps up Friday at 2 pm at Manzano Middle School here in Brownsville.

So far, through Thursday morning over one thousand people had sought health services through Operation Lone star.

Here in the Rio Grande Valley, health officials say a large number of residents struggle with at least one of two major health issues.

"The biggest one is obesity and then diabetes,and those two can be prevented," says Fidel Calvillo, Public Health Response Director, from the Cameron County Health Dept.

An event like this, which offers a number of services, some of which include body mass index testing, diabetes testing and basic vitals screenings, allows our local health officials to get an overall picture of how these two serious health related problems are either improving or rising.

The data gathered will give health departments a clearer picture of whether or not their educational programs are having an impact on disease prevention.

“Hopefully getting the data will help us apply for grants and let us get more educational programs to help our community," says Calvillo.

That data could take a few more weeks before being compiled. Once officials evaluate the numbers they'll have a better idea of which direction they need to focus their efforts.

Once again the event at Manzano Middle School, off of West Alton Gloor wraps up Friday at 2 pm.