Wake Southern Health Clinic reopens after closing during COVID-19 pandemic: 'Convenient'

FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. (WTVD) -- Jackie Pinkney has gotten used to driving from Fuquay-Varina a half hour away to Raleigh whenever she wanted to access services Wake County Health Services.

Thankfully, the Wake County Southern Regional Center Clinic reopened on March 4 for patients.

"It is convenient," said Pinkney.

The clinic closed during the pandemic.

The center is located in a town where more than 10 percent of people live below the poverty line and 6.4 percent under the age of 65 don't have insurance, according to US Census data.

"Getting to Raleigh now with the traffic, the population increase, it's as hard as ever," said Wake County Southern Regional Center Director Richard Hayner.

Dr. Adeola Oluwase says some of her patients would skip visits because of transportation obstacles.

"Hopefully with this access, people (are) coming in for the care that they need," said Oluwase. "We're taking away some barriers, transportation barriers, time barriers, having to take more time off work to travel all the way to Raleigh and now it's available here."

Services offered for patients include

• Prenatal care

• Pediatrics (birth-20 years old)

• WIC

• Family planning and birth control

• Immunizations

• HIV/STD testing and treatment

Other services provided at Wake County Southern Regional Center include

• Birth and death certificates

• Employment assistance through NCWorks

• Energy and utility bill assistance

• Food and nutrition services

• Marriage certificates and licenses

• Potassium iodide pills

• Medicaid assistance

• Mental and behavioral health

• Notary public oaths

• Tax payments