Clinic delays testing dates until mold expert trains clinic personnel

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Clinic delays testing dates

Wait: Start date pushed back pending training from mold expert later this

month.

By Angeles Negrete Lares

The Brownsville Herald

South Texas Health Care System officials this week pushed back the date to

begin testing local students for symptoms of toxic mold exposure.

STHCS, a hospital and outpatient clinic in Harlingen, will begin receiving

students from Aiken Elementary and Besteiro Middle schools in April but have

not settled on a specific date.

A tentative start date was planned for later this month but was postponed,

pending the arrival of Dr. , a Houston-based physician that

has agreed to conduct an orientation session on testing methods for STHCS

doctors on March 28.

" Because the clinic does not have doctors who specialize in the treatment of

mold exposure, Dr. . will provide us with medical training

for local physicians in the clinic, " Dr. , director for STHCS,

said.

first came to Brownsville in February to speak about the health

effects of mold exposure.

He is medical director of the Center for Immune, Environmental and Toxic

Disorders and specializes in the study of how toxins affect the body and

immune system.

" The training and all the information that Dr. provides us will

help the physicians give the medical care that the community needs at this

time, " said, noting that while the doctor's services will not be

provided free, specific costs were not available.

Meanwhile, the schools are closed and students and staff relocated while

mold and air quality tests continue.

Parents and staff from both schools claim students and faculty are suffering

nosebleeds, headaches, seizures, earaches and other symptoms that they

attribute to mold exposure.

About 50 parents were present Wednesday during an assembly with STHCS

representatives hosted by Valley Interfaith leaders at Christ the King

Catholic Church.

Valley Interfaith a nonpartisan, broad-based organization is helping

families from Aiken and Besteiro that are seeking health services for their

children.

" We are currently working with Valley Interfaith to acquire the services of

a specialist in mold-related illness or to learn more about these illnesses

in order to treat them appropriately at this clinic, " said.

" We need to be ready to provide the medical attention for the children that

are presenting symptoms of mold, but now we need to know what kind of mold

was found in the schools, " she said.

Though extensive testing has been performed on the school buildings, the

school district has yet to release a complete list of molds found inside the

schools. Brownsville Independent School District officials are not involved

in plans to provide testing at STHCS.

" Just based on the fact that these are children that need to be taken care

of, we decided that we would assist in whatever way we could, " said.

said about 30 children would be examined each day. Valley Interfaith

officials estimate that 500 people, including children and staff, will

undergo testing.

Those needing to be tested must show proof of Texas residence. They will be

charged according to their ability to pay. The minimum is $15.

Students and staff seeking services at STHCS must go through a registration

process at the clinic before they can be seen, officials noted.

" People need to register . and complete all the applications because it will

be difficult for the clinic to register all the families, " Rev. Alfonso

Guevara, pastor at Christ the King and Valley Interfaith leader said.

" Valley Interfaith is still hoping that no one is left without medical

services, " Guevara said. " We will find a way to help each family that was

affected with mold. "