**Community Demands Return of Mobile Medical Services in Tijuana**
Residents of the Presidentes neighborhood in Tijuana have rallied outside the Health Services Jurisdiction 2 offices, protesting the suspension of essential mobile medical units that have not serviced their area for three weeks. This absence has left many without necessary medical check-ups, vaccinations, and medications.
Evangelina Gallardo, a local resident, expressed her community’s frustration, saying, “They took away our doctors and mobile medical units. People are desperate. These are individuals with limited resources who need medicine and can’t even afford the simplest pain relief.” Since January 8, without prior notice, the mobile unit that previously catered to pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension has stopped visiting the neighborhood.
“We have expectant mothers asking, ‘Where do I go now?’ and there’s no answer for them. We don’t have medicine, we don’t have doctors, nothing,” Gallardo shared from the community health center on Vicente Guerrero Street. She added that the residents are forming a committee to approach the jurisdiction’s director to demand solutions.
The health jurisdiction once had 33 mobile units serving low-income and remote communities in Tijuana, a service in collaboration with national health initiatives. However, due to insurance policy issues since the start of the year, the 12 still-functional units have been grounded. As a result, communities are left without care, while medical staff remain inactive within the jurisdiction’s facilities.
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**Secondary Article: Solutions Sought for Tijuana’s Medical Mobile Crisis**
Amid the ongoing suspension of mobile medical services in Tijuana, authorities and local organizations are seeking solutions to resume essential healthcare provisions. With eleven of the mobile units deemed non-operational by the end of 2024 due to mechanical failures and insurance lapses, the urgency for practical remedies has intensified.
Local health officials have acknowledged the critical shortfall and are considering various options, including potential partnerships with private entities or seeking state and federal assistance to restore insurance coverage. Community leaders continue to advocate for the swift repair and deployment of these indispensable medical units, emphasizing their significance in maintaining public health in underserved areas.
Efforts are underway to expedite the insurance renewal process, which would allow the remaining operational units to resume their routes and begin addressing the backlog of medical needs. Additionally, stakeholders are exploring long-term strategies to sustain and expand mobile medical services, ensuring resilience against similar disruptions in the future.