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County, state and federal officials made an important move this week when they chose to open a health assessment clinic in East Palestine. For residents who have worried for nearly three weeks that they were not being heard, the clinic might be the reassurance they need.
"I heard you, the state heard you, and now the Ohio Department of Health and many of our partner agencies are providing this clinic, where people can come and discuss these vital issues with medical providers," said Ohio Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff.
It is possible some of those who go to the clinic with symptoms will help expand the knowledge we have about the effects of such a disaster. Certainly there will be some who, because they visited the clinic, will learn their symptoms are a sign of something else and be steered toward the help they need.
Crucially, the help doesn't stop at physical health.
Mental health services will also be available.
Test after test has shown the water is safe to drink and the air is safe to breathe, in East Palestine. Residents are worried their symptoms show otherwise. Rather than simply asking those residents to take their word for it, the Columbiana County Health Department, Ohio Department of Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services knew well enough to take a different approach.
They're going to be "the boots on the ground," as Columbiana County Health Department spokesperson Laura Fauss put it. They're going to stick around, listen to those who bring their concerns (and symptoms) to the clinic, and behave as though they understand Gov. Mike DeWine's reminder that "residents deserve answers."
The difference in behavior between an agency filled with bureaucrats saying we should just trust them, and agencies filled with people who at some point in their careers probably swore an oath to "do no harm" is telling. Thank goodness those in the latter group were thinking clearly enough to know East Palestine needs someone to listen and help, and they are up for the job.