The Shriners, throughout the United States, Mexico and the Republic of Panama support 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children. There are 18 Orthopedic Hospitals, three Burn Centers, and one Hospital that provides orthopedic, burn and spinal cord injury care. These hospitals have cured or substantially helped, more than 770,000 children-at no cost to parent or child-since the first Shriners Hospital opened in 1922.

The expense of caring for these children are covered by the Shriners thru their dues, and various fund raisers plus private donations.

The two hospitals closest to us here in Southern MS are the Orthopedic Hospital in Shreveport and a Burn Center in Galveston.

The Stone County Shrine Club in Wiggins MS and the Joppa Shriners are working together to sponsor a Screening Clinic for children, under the age of 18, that have orthopedic or spinal cord problems or severe scarring from burns. These children can be treated totally free of charge at our Shriners Hospitals for Children. The screening clinic will be held at the Wiggins Primary Care Center, 200 Coastal Paper Ave, Wiggins MS on October 12, 2006 from 2–6 p.m.. Dr. Bobbie Burn and staff will do the evaluation. Your child will be evaluated for scoliosis, neuromuscular disorders, hand and back problems, leg length discrepancies, rickets, congenital hip problems, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, orthopedic problems associated with cerebral palsy, and cleft palate, along with other problems.

The purpose of the screening clinic is two-fold. We need — no, we MUST — get the word out to various organizations, Pediatricians, social workers, school nurses and especially to the individuals that this care is available to all children, under the age of 18, regardless of race, creed or affiliation with a Shriner. The Shriners Hospitals for Children offers expert medical care in their field. The staff are specialists in their area. These are not charity hospitals where care may be sub standard.

It is important that parents get involved with their child’s health care. Recently, two cases have been brought to our attention where the parent nor the Doctors knew about the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Because of not knowing, one child wore casts on his legs for two years, causing some permanent damage, and the other suffered excruciating pain because of a severe burn for eight days before the parents heard about the Shriners Hospitals for Children. As parents, you must never accept reports that “nothing can be done”. Bring your child to our screening clinic Oct. 12th and let the Doctor evaluate the condition. If you plan on attending the clinic please call 601-928-9200. This will help us in planning how many to expect.

The second reason for holding the screening clinic is to find the children in Southern MS that need our help. Your child can be evaluated at the Wiggins Primary Care Center in Wiggins, MS where help will be provided to fill out applications. This is the first step in receiving the treatment needed. By holding the clinic here in MS, it will save the family from making a trip to Shreveport or Galveston. Once your child has been accepted for treatment, all transportation will be provided free of charge by contacting our Transportation Director, Jasper Pinson, at Joppa Temple.

If you know of a child that needs our help, please call Joppa Shrine Temple, 228-392-9345 or the screening clinic co-ordinate, at 601-928-9200.

Shriners need help at clinic

Joppa Shrine Temple will be sponsoring a Shriners Hospitals for Children Screening Clinic October, 12th, 2006 from 2–6 p.m. The Clinic will be held at Wiggins Primary Care, 200 Coastal Paper Ave, Wiggins, MS. Dr. Bobbie Burn has volunteered his staff and his facility to help with this endeavor.

The clinic is open to all children in Southern Mississippi with orthopedic problems, scars from burns or cleft lip/palette.

We need all Shriners with their Fez and their Ladies to help make this clinic a success. This is the first screening clinic to be held in Mississippi. It is a great opportunity for the Shriners of Joppa Temple to step out and be recognized for the good work that you do. It is time to get involved and join the fun.

For details, call: 601-928-9200.