Socorro selected for national health survey offering free medical exams

SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) — Tuesday, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the CDC came to Socorro to explain its initiative of free health examinations to assess the health and nutritional status of people living in the United States.

The survey’s Mobile Examination Center (MEC), a fully equipped medical clinic on wheels, travels across the country collecting health data that help inform important public health policies and programs, including dietary guidelines, chronic disease research, and environmental health protections.

The press conference on Tuesday featured medical professionals from Texas Tech, UTEP and elected officials, including Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, Socorro Mayor Rudy Cruz, County Commissioner Iliana Holguin.

Alexa Ortiz, NHANES Health Communication Strategist said that only 20 locations throughout America were selected, and Socorro was one of them. She said they will have their mobile medical clinic set up in Socorro until mid-December.

NHANES randomly selects households to ask to participate in the survey. If the household agrees, they go to the mobile medical center at the Rio Vista Civic Center (901 N. Rio Vista Rd.). There, households go through a medical exam and receive results later. The exam includes a vision test, hearing test, urine, blood and bone density exam.

NHANES said participants may be eligible for compensation and transportation.

The primary goal of NHANES is to gather data to better understand the nation's overall health status. Officials noted that the findings directly inform national health policy, support local medical research, and empower individuals to make well-informed healthcare decisions for themselves and their families.