LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - This year’s Operation Border Health preparedness exercise has been postponed indefinitely, according to a joint announcement from Laredo Public Health, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Cameron County Public Health, and Hidalgo County Health and Human Services.
Local health departments say the difficult decision comes amid staffing reductions and uncertainty with funding. The annual event, which was scheduled to take place later this month, typically brings together hundreds of public health professionals, agency employees, and volunteers to deliver free health services and bolster emergency preparedness across South Texas.
Without enough time to adjust the scale of the exercise, DSHS determined moving forward without key local partners was not feasible.
DSHS and participating agencies say they hope to reconvene Operation Border Health in the near future and will continue to assess future opportunities for community outreach and preparedness.
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