Providing Direct Care for Beneficiaries
Relentless helps bridge gaps in health care to organizations and beneficiaries where barriers to quality health care are difficult to overcome. These clinics are small in scope and are offered at no charge. If it is a “red-light clinic”, it is held in a place near to where the beneficiaries work and are offered at times convenient to their schedule. Sometimes health care is provided to beneficiaries participating in an aftercare program (residential or community-based).
Even if health care is technically available, even at low cost, street kids, migrant laborers, and prostituted people still don’t tend to seek care there. They typically don’t like going to doctors – they have had bad experiences due to discrimination (perceived or real). Clinics often open during times that don’t fit with their work hours or “lifestyle”. Many sexually exploited people don’t get straight answers from health care professionals. The doctors typically don’t like to take any time with them. If it were only a matter of testing blood or urine, then it would be easy, but that doesn’t constitute good health care.
For more see Breaking Barriers and More Than Just a Medical Clinic and Your Heart is Good.
Dr. Katherine has been a tremendous resource and blessing to both the Urban Light team and the Urban Light Boys we serve. Serving an at-risk population of youth demands a person who beholds trust, confidence and discretion and Dr. Katherine has brought these gifts in addition to all her medical knowledge. There have been many occasion when our staff are able to call upon Dr. Katherine at the last minute when a Boys is ill or in need of medical support–she never fails and for that we are forever indebted to her and her supporters. We hope to continue our wonderful partnership with Relentless and Dr. Katherine as we move forward serving and empowering the community in which we serve.
– Alezandra Russell, Founder and President, Urban Light.