A group of dedicated researchers from North Carolina Central University’s Julius L. Chambers Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Institute stepped up to meet urgent health needs following Hurricane Helene’s devastating aftermath. Over the weekend of Nov. 1-3, these NCCU employees turned their focus towards community service, providing vital healthcare assistance to residents grappling with the storm’s lingering effects.
The team set out to raise awareness about their services, distributing flyers detailing their free health clinic.
The mobile health clinic was a much-needed resource, staffed by an experienced group, including Dr. Aaron Moore and three nurses. With a licensed physician on-site, they provided essential supplies such as compression stockings, glucometers, EpiPens, and ibuprofen. Residents could receive prescriptions quickly, addressing immediate health concerns ranging from urinary tract infections to high blood pressure.
Dr. Thuhuong Trinh, who partnered with her husband, Dr. Peter Le, from St. Joseph Primary Care in Raleigh, emphasized the urgency of their mission. “Some people didn’t have insurance,” Dr. Trinh noted. “Some were unable to contact their doctors. They needed something right away. That accessibility that we were just there, and people could see us quickly.”
On the Road to Recovery
The impact of Hurricane Helene was still evident as the team set up their clinic in a Walmart parking lot in Spruce Pine. Piles of debris—stoves, mattresses, and other household items— still littered the roadsides. “There were a lot of homes entirely destroyed,” Dr. Moore shared.
As they continued their journey west to Burnsville, the team witnessed firsthand the community’s ongoing struggle. Upon arriving in Burnsville, they discovered a strip mall that had transformed into a mobile disaster relief center, providing food, toiletries, medications, and supplies desperately needed by the local population.
Before their visit, BBRI staff coordinated donations of blankets, jackets, and diapers, demonstrating their commitment to supporting those affected by the floods.
The mission at JLC-BBRI resonates deeply within the broader framework of health equity, as its research focuses on health issues disproportionately affecting minority and underserved populations. Its commitment to enhancing community health is further bolstered through funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, enabling it to deliver essential services where they are needed most.
