UMC holds Grand Opening of El Indio Hwy. Clinic;

Chavira: 'Never ever dreamed of a clinic like this' 

A.D. Ibarra

-UMC

"We've been blessed with a beautiful day," stated Chamber of Commerce emcee Humberto "Beto" Garza as a very large gathering came together to witness the grand opening of UMC's latest venture, the El Indio Highway Clinic which has been a long time in the planning stages, yet with its culmination, will bring much needed healthcare to the people who most need it in the southernmost reaches of Maverick County.

"We would like to welcome you to this proud and exciting day for UMC," said Board President Ruben Carrillo, "This day is truly a culmination of careful planning, hard work and responsible steady growth not only for UMC, but for our community who now have easier access to services we provide on a daily basis."

"In 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed," stated George Kypuros, CEO of UMC, "As imperfect as it may be, it did include some funding for projects like this."

Kypuros said they submitted the application in 2011 and they competed nationally and did not receive the funds, however persistence paid off for the new facility when in 2012, funding for this project was granted.

The reason behind the approval was mainly because UMC had purchased the six acre property from Isidro De Los Santos, thus making them what Washington deems a 'Shovel ready' project.

"I want to share my appreciation with Isidro De Los Santos and the De Los Santos Trust who was able to facilitate this construction."

"I want you to know that I'm from Eagle Pass, I was born on Bryan Street with a midwife" stated Dr. Juan Antonio Chavira, keynote speaker of the event who reminded the gathering of the fact that when he was growing up, there was nothing past HEB and the thought of health care for the people of Eagle Pass was nothing short of a fantasy, "Being as old as I am, I'm 29, and those of you who are as old as I am realize the significance of a place like this.  In those times we did not have the medical care we have today. And when we had to go to the doctor we would go to Piedras Negras. I will tell you that most of the people who were born on Bryan were delivered by midwives and we were born OK with two legs, two arms, one head and we walk alright.  They would come in and say 'Boil water, quick!'  I never knew why they would boil water, but they would boil water."

He wanted to reiterate that when he was young, they could not even dream of having a clinic such as this.  He said that when he sees these clinics with doctors who are here to care for his people in this pristine clinic, this clean clinic with clean restrooms, first rate equipment to treat and diagnose our people, he feels as proud as a gamecock.

"It gives me great pride that my town has the healthcare it needs," he concluded.

Kypuros took the opportunity to have each and every professional introduce themselves just before they unveiled a plaque commemorating the building and its Board of Directors and cutting the ribbon in what this reporter considers to be the grandest of grand openings I have ever attended.