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Indybay Feature

Berkeley Free Clinic 35th Anniversary

by irlandeso (repost from SF-IMC) (bfc_alumni [at] yahoo.com)
Berkeley Free Clinic 35th Anniversary Set for Memorial Day Weekend
red-dragon-bfc-full.gif
Berkeley, CA (3/12/04)
While not the communist party the Berkeley Free Clinic has, over the years,
developed its own subversive following having trained literally hundreds of
volunteers in their 35 year history.

"Most people don't realize that the `silent' service of the Free
Clinic is education of members. We have educated hundreds of folks in
the basics of medicine, collectivity, counseling, dissident politics
you name it. Because our foundation was built on the concepts of
anti-professionalism and lay healthcare we have always provided the
bulk of our volunteer training in-house," says Andrea Zeppa, longtime
member of the Berkeley Free Clinic and one of the primary organizers
of this year's 35th anniversary celebration.

Zeppa goes on to talk about the fact that many ex-members go on
professions in the community sparked by interests fostered at the BFC.
"I have seen members come in to the medical section (the service
division responsible for the Clinic's flagship medical services) with
no interest in medical school and come out the other side of their
experience raving about medical school and I have seen people
convinced that medicine was their calling turn toward other fields and
passions".

The Berkeley Free Clinic is an interesting place, to say the least.
Founded as a result of the People's Park and other riots during the
turbulent 1960s the Clinic has maintained its vision of healthcare as
a right and not a privilege.

"We are one of the few medical clinics in the nation that offers
completely free services, even Haight-Ashbury charges now", says
Zeppa citing the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic's recent decision
to ask for sliding-scale donations for services.

"People always ask me `how much does it cost?' which is funny given
our name, but free medical care does not compute in this country, its
really a shame'".

Indeed with the rising costs of medical services and threats to basic
services like recent threats to Highland Hospital the need for
accessible healthcare is as acute as it has ever been.

In the midst of these changes, as in the midst of all the changes for
the past 35 years, the Berkeley Free Clinic continues to provide basic
medical services, sexually transmitted disease treatment, peer
counseling, dental care, an information and referral hotline, HIV
testing, and the most comprehensive hepatitis testing in the nation,
all on a shoe-string budget and all on a volunteer basis.

"The people who have worked here over the years are amazing, and we
would like to see them again, to talk to them about the history of the
Clinic and have them help celebrate with us".

The celebration of the anniversary is set this year for Memorial Day
weekend.

"If you have ever been a member please contact us! We want you
to help us celebrate" declares the enthusiastic Zeppa.

If you would like to contact the Berkeley Free Clinic regarding the
35th anniversary please do so by e-mailing: bfc_alumni [at] yahoo.com

For services call M-F 3-9 p.m. or check out their website.

(repost after permission from Berkeley Free Clinic folks)
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