Local Clinic Brings Health Services to San Luis Residents, Boosts Access

On December 11 Comité de Bienestar staged its last health event of 2025 in San Luis, offering vaccines and a range of supportive services through a multi agency clinic model. What began in 2020 as COVID 19 vaccine outreach has grown into a broader effort that pairs immunizations with health screenings, legal assistance and other on site supports to reach residents where they live.

The organization’s executive director, Tony Reyes, reported that the clinics have administered more than 26,000 vaccinations to date. Localizing services in San Luis is intended to cut a common barrier to care, because many residents face long commutes and would otherwise need to spend a full day traveling to Yuma to access similar services. By removing travel time and related costs, the clinics aim to improve uptake of preventive care and reduce gaps in basic health access.

Beyond immediate convenience, the clinics carry public health significance for Yuma County. Bringing vaccinations and screenings into the community increases opportunities to detect and manage chronic conditions earlier, improves immunization coverage, and creates touch points for referrals to longer term care. The addition of legal assistance acknowledges that health is shaped by social and economic factors, and that addressing immigration, housing and employment related legal needs can strengthen health outcomes.

The model also highlights systemic challenges. Sustaining multi agency outreach requires ongoing coordination, funding and workforce capacity. Local leaders and health planners face decisions about investing in community based services versus centralized clinic structures, and the San Luis experience underscores how equity minded planning can reduce barriers for residents with limited transportation or inflexible work schedules.

Comité de Bienestar said it plans to continue offering clinics in the coming year. For residents, the continuing presence of neighborhood based health events means more accessible preventive care and practical support close to home. For policymakers and public health officials, the clinics offer a replicable approach to reaching underserved populations while addressing social determinants that matter for long term community health.