Wellness on Wheels Mobile Clinic Brings Free Health Screenings to Walton County
A new mobile health clinic hit the road in Walton County this week, aiming to bring free preventive health screenings directly to residents who might otherwise skip them. The Northwest Florida Health Council cut the ribbon on its “Wellness on Wheels” unit Tuesday morning at the Florida Department of Health office in DeFuniak Springs.
The 33-foot retrofitted unit will travel across Walton County and the surrounding region, offering daily screenings for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and vision problems. Services are provided at no cost to residents, with the clinic deploying to community centers, faith-based organizations, workplaces, schools, and public events across the area.
The project got off the ground with a $55,000 grant from the St. Joe Foundation, which backed the council’s push to expand rural health access in North Walton County. For residents in Freeport and other communities far from major medical facilities, the mobile clinic could cut down on the long drives that often deter routine checkups.
The Northwest Florida Health Council serves Florida’s District One, covering Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties. The organization’s free mobile health screenings program has been operating across the panhandle, but Tuesday’s ribbon cutting marks a formal expansion of the service into Walton County with a dedicated unit.
Walton County residents interested in upcoming clinic stops can follow the Northwest Florida Health Council on Facebook or visit nwflhc.org for the full schedule of community visits and available screenings.
Originally reported by MyPanhandle (WMBB) and WJHG Newschannel 7.
