Georgia County Health Departments Hire Interpreters for Clinics

With a "stream of immigrants" settling in Georgia, the state's public health clinics have had a "constant need" for interpreters, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. For example, in Fulton County, the number of Hispanics using clinics rose from 2,271 in 1990 to 12,296 in 2000, an increase of 441%. While a majority of the patients are Hispanic, the Journal-Constitution reports that Haitians, Vietnamese and French-speaking West Africans have also immigrated to the state (Rodriguez, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/2). In response, the Fulton County Commission has given the county Department of Health and Wellness a $325,000 grant to hire Spanish and Vietnamese interpreters. The Journal-Constitution reports that the county will contract with the Latin American Translators Network to hire interpreters. While the details are still being "worked out," clinic staff will take classes to learn basic Spanish and Vietnamese (Rodriguez, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/2). Dr. Adewale Troutman, director of the county health department, said, "We look at it as an access issue. If you don't have an adequate number of language and culturally appropriate providers, then you are unable to deliver an equal level of care. It's also an issue of rights. We see health care as a right" (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/2).