More vendors needed for Operation Border Health Preparedness

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – Operation Border Health Preparedness, which runs July 24-28 in five South Texas locations, is in need of more health vendors.

OBHP used to be known as Operation Lone Star but the name was changed when Gov. Greg Abbott starting using it for a state border security program.

OBHP is an exercise to help the community get ready for disasters, with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and local partners offering free medical, dental, and vision services to the community during the event.

The event is made possible by local county and city health departments, medical schools, human service organizations, Texas Military Forces and universities, as well as out-of-state agencies, such as Remote Area Medical (RAM) and other volunteer groups.

The five locations are Brownsville, Raymondville, San Juan Juan, Rio Grande City, and Laredo.

DSHS is in search of health vendors to participate in the Raymondville and Rio Grande City sites of OBHP.

Any health vendor is interested in participating in OBHP to share its organizations’s information with persons participating in OBHP are asked to fill out a Resource Registration Form. Click here to do so.

Those interested in participating in Raymondville should contact Michael Sanchez (Michael.Sanchez@dshs.texas.gov).

Those interested in participating in Rio Grande City should contact Lupita Mata (Lupita.Mata@dshs.texas.gov).

OBHP 2023 Resources Registration Form

There is no cost for vendors to participate, but they will be required to undergo a short on-line training course.

In addition to the general public, professionals and clinicians in various fields are invited to volunteer for OBHP. The fields are medical, dental, vision, veterinary, and mental.

To sign up as a volunteer and for more information, email phepphr11@dshs.texas.gov.

State Rep. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City is a big supporter of Operation Border Health Preparedness. Guillen said: “Be sure to visit one of the five locations on July 24 – 28 to receive free health services courtesy of Operation Border Health Preparedness. Available services include medical exams, sports physicals for students, diabetes screenings, dental exams, and vision exams,” he said.

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