REGION-A long needed service is on its way to the Black Belt in the form of Women’s Health Clinics. Gov. Bob riley announced Friday due to the collaborative efforts of the Health Committee of the black Belt Action Commission the Community Care Network is now partnering with Dr. Phillip D. Walton, who is one of the founding partners of Henderson and Walton Women’s Center in Birmingham, to provide a series of Black Belt health clinics to deal with women’s health care issues.

Walton, who is a licensed OB/GYN, said he looks forward to addressing the needs of women and women’s healthcare issues.

“In the Black Belt and rural Alabama women are dying at a higher rate than those who live in urban areas due to a lack of access to basic health care needs such as mammograms and pap smears,” Walton said. “We will be performing these procedures and offering basic health screenings and I will be able to offer my services at no cost to the women who reside in these communities.”

Dr, Leon Davis, Founder and CEO of the Community Care Network, said the partnership would lead to improved health care in the Black Belt Region.

“This is happening because other doctors and medical staffs are learning about what we do and want to become part of what we are trying to accomplish, ” Davis said. “We hope to provide health care for uninsured and underinsured people within rural areas of our state.”

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, chairman of the Health Committee said the partnership would lead to improved health care in the Black Belt region.

“This partnership is a single, but much needed step towards meeting the full need for comprehensive healthcare that is lacking for women in the Black Belt,” Davis said.

The Community Care Network was established in 2000 to help medically underserved and uninsured by bringing together volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, nutritionists, therapists and other medical professionals to offer free medical evaluations and treatment at health fairs. The CCN used a mobile medical unit called the “Care A Van” which was a fully equipped medical vehicle complete with two exam rooms and a medical lab to enable CCN to give complete medical screenings.

The Community Care Network hopes to establish dental clinics, men’s clinics and other services within the next year. CCN is currently partnering with the Governor’s Black Belt Action Commission and the office of Rep. Davis to hold countywide fairs in all 12 Black Belt counties this year.

The first specialty clinic is planned for Sat. July 23 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Mount Moriah church in Hayneville. The clinic will deal specifically with women’s health.

For more information on the Community Care Network please call 334-269-6251 or visit their website at www.comcarenetwork.prg. Log onto www.blackbeltaction.org for more information on Gov. Riley’s Black Belt Action Commission. Those wishing to volunteer their time and services may do so at the above website or by calling 334-353-1540 or 1-866-468-2323.