‘Wellness on Wheels’ pulls into Warren Health District

Jun 9, 2023

WARREN — The Warren City Health District unveiled its new "Wellness on Wheels" mobile care unit at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the parking lot of the Gibson building on Thursday.

The vehicle will travel to each ward in the city and provide health care services to residents who might not have means of receiving them otherwise.

The total cost of the unit was $230,800. The Trumbull Memorial Regional Foundation provided $184,149 toward the vehicle, while Warren City Councilman Ronald White, D-7th Ward, provided $46,651 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to cover the rest of the cost. The National Association of County and City Health Offices (NACCHO) provided $75,000 toward supplies.

Cheryl Strother, director of nursing with the health district, said the idea for the mobile health unit came to fruition when the district went to different areas throughout the city to provide immunizations for the flu and COVID-19. Strother said the city realized many residents needed better access to health care services.

"It really came to fruition when we were doing a grant for COVID and flu," Strother said. "We found that there were particular areas in the wards that were really under-immunized. Looking at the rest of the data, we found that we really needed to do other things besides just COVID and flu vaccines."

John May, the city's deputy health commissioner, said there was a lot of hesitancy from residents to go out and get vaccinations or other health services during the pandemic. May said the new unit will be able to address a larger number of health care needs in the community.

"We’ll offer blood pressure screenings," May said. "We’ll offer glucose and cholesterol checks, HIV and Hepatitis-C testing, and influenza and COVID-19 vaccines also will be offered to start."

Strother said the current services that will be provided through the mobile unit are just a starting point. As the district uses the vehicle and is able to assess the needs of residents and receive their feedback, Strother said that further options for medical care could be offered in the future.

"It will be based on what we see," she said. "And what the people request, then we’ll probably try to offer those services in the future."

White's name is featured on the back of the vehicle, along with other sponsors. White said the ARP funds were a "Godsend," and the mobile unit will benefit everyone in Warren.

"One of the main things was that we had to find the best use for the money," White said. "As far as for the wards, this was something that was a no-brainer. We wanted to put it out there and make sure each ward would reap the benefits. It was also asked that each council person find two or three areas in their ward so the truck can visit… It's going to benefit the whole city in general."

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin had the honor of cutting the ribbon while surrounded by health district workers. First Ward Councilman Todd Johnson led those in attendance at the ceremony in a prayer over the unit.

The health district does not know when exactly the vehicle will officially hit the road. But Strother and May said that they hope to use the vehicle to serve the community as soon as possible.

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