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Special to the Signal

The Lowndes County Improvement Association (L.C.I.A)’s next scheduled meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Hayneville Church of Christ will feature guest speaker Dr. Pamela Foster, M.D., MPH (master of public health), assistant professor, Community and Rural Medicine, deputy director, The Institute for Rural Health Research, College of Medicine, University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Dr. Ozelle Hubert, LCIA president, said Dr. Foster’s presentation will “focus on rural healthcare needs in medically underserved communities and the Medical Scholars Program.”

He also said information will be made available regarding the eye disease glaucoma.

Hubert said, “The month of January is observed as national glaucoma Awareness Month” and spoke on the importance of screening, treatment, medication compliance and information concerning support groups.

Hubert also announced that information will be made on the upcoming healthcare opportunities program (H.C.O.P), Fall 2017 as an after school, Saturday program for public and private high school students in partnership with Lowndes County Cooperative extension and Southeast Alabama Health Education Centers, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Hayneville Church of Christ Fellowship Hall.

“These initiatives are being planned to further support and demonstrate our sincere interest in developing a 30-bed critical-access community hospital in Lowndes County, town of Hayneville providing 24-hour emergency care services with an adjacent medical center complex offering one day medical specialty services with 24-hour on call professional pharmacy services, as well as, proposed medical, dental, professional pharmacy and nutritional food mart center in Fort Deposit.”

Hubert said, “This truly is a rural health and economic development project that will serve this medically underserved community in the Black Belt region of Alabama.”

He said the scheduled speaker for the Feb 16 meeting will be Dale Quinney, executive director, Alabama Rural Health Association, addressing Rural Alabama Health: Major Public Health Concern.

Hubert said, “The goal of LCIA is to improve the quality of life for individuals living in Lowndes County from a holistic perspective; mentally, physically, spiritually, economically, politically, educationally, with the focus on quality, affordable, cost-effective and accessible health services.”

For further information regarding the monthly meetings and or any assistance with this community development project, contact:  Dr. O.L. Hubert, president., P.O. Box 518, Hayneville, AL 36040-0518, 1(251)387-0357, (251)246-5869, e-mail: dochubert7@gmail.com., the Rev/Bro. Martin McCall 1(334)531-4066, or Katanga Mants 1(334)548-2315.