PRESCOTT – The first post-COVID ribbon cutting was held Thursday afternoon when a ribbon was cut to welcome UAMS’s RED (research and evaluation division) to Prescott.
The facility, located at 739 Main, provides free gap medical services to the community. Prescott is the first community in the state to get such a facility and, if it’s successful, UAMS will open more across the state.
A variety of services are offered, mainly dealing with HIV, though it does more than just HIV treatment and screenings. In fact, it will offer information on substance abuse, child abuse, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, with free trainings to help people overcome their problems. There will also be food and clothing available for clients. The facility will have iPads and white boards to be used during the trainings.
According to Berry Marks, the manager, this is a gap service center that offers free health care. He said UAMS has been working on this project about a year, mostly to get the building in shape. “I’m from this area,” he said, “I know its needed and that people don’t have access to health care. I want to help the community.” Marks added, the center isn’t just for Prescott, but the surrounding area as well.
He told those gathered there will be a lot of education services offered, including sex education, healthy eating and child abuse, among others. The center will be a safe zone for clients, he added. Additionally, if any organization is interested, training services are offered, and Marks will try to get a specialist to show up at least once a month.
Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver said he’s proud of UAMS for choosing Prescott as its pilot for t his. “I know what Berry stands for and he’ll give it all he’s got.” Oliver added the community needs to support the center.
