Free Medical Clinic in Charleston
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food insecurity in America has reached its highest level in nearly a decade, .with roughly 47 million to 48 million people struggling to access adequate food. This sense of need has given rise to numerous charitable organizations that seek to address this issue, including one that also serves as a free medical center called Shifa Clinic.
Shifa Clinic Services and Eligibility
Based in Charleston, Shifa Clinic offers a wide range of services to those meeting eligibility requirements, including medical services, hunger prevention programs and outreach programs.
ICNA Relief USA Programs and National Support
Shifa is part of a much larger national organization. Islamic Circle of North America Relief USA Programs works in six major areas: health services, refugee services, transition homes, back-to-school, hunger prevention programs and family services.
How Shifa Clinic Started in Charleston
Shifa Clinic founder and ICNA National Director of Health Services Reshma Khan, MD, said the idea for Shifa Clinic came from her simple desire to volunteer in her community. However, she soon realized that her talents weren’t being utilized as an OB-GYN since most free clinics in the area only offered primary care services.
“Despite reaching out to all manner of different volunteer organizations, no one was interested in women’s health at the time. It wasn’t until I visited an ICNA Relief USA Programs conference that I started to see an opportunity, since they normally start free clinics,” Dr. Khan said. “About 10 months after my initial contact with them, they gave me the green light to start a chapter here in Charleston.”
ICNA Relief has six clinics in the United States, in Georgia, Texas, California, Oklahoma, Illinois and now South Carolina.
From Humble Beginnings to Expanded Care
The original site of Shifa Clinic had humble beginnings in 2019, with a 900-square-foot office complete with a single waiting room, office and examination room. There was no staff except a few volunteers.
Dr. Khan credits community support and her volunteers’ passionate generosity with Shifa Clinic’s gradual success.
“We went from essentially a team of zero to a staff of 13 full-time employees, along with adding specialties including OB-GYN, primary care, pediatrics and vision care, which we provide to those who are uninsured and have an income that falls below 250% of the federal poverty level,” Dr. Khan explained.
How Services Are Funded
Cost is always one of the first questions she hears from potential patients because many people wonder just how something can be considered “free.” The answer comes from private donations, community resources and federal, state and city grants, all of which help Dr. Khan and her staff continue providing services to the lower income residents of Charleston.
Anyone interested in utilizing Shifa Clinic’s medical services must fill out an application to show proof of income and residency.
On-Site Pharmacy, Vaccines, and Food Pantry Support
The clinic has its own on-site pharmacy offering low-cost medications as well as no-cost vaccinations for children and limited surgical procedures such as IUD insertions. In addition to offering medical care, Shifa Clinic also has a robust food pantry that serves between 80 and 90 families per day. The staff even delivers groceries to more than 100 families once each month through collaboration with Amazon.
Outreach Programs and No-Cost Screenings
Another large aspect of Shifa Clinic is community outreach programs, which include health fairs, educational workshops and a child hunger prevention program that Dr. Khan established at two different schools. Outreach programs can include medical screenings, which are provided at no cost.
“Some of these people haven’t been to the doctor in a very long time, and once they are done with their screening, we can then schedule them to come see us at the clinic,” Dr. Khan said.
Student Rotations and Community Learning
Shifa Clinic acts as a site for Medical University of South Carolina students to work during their academic rotation and offers internships for College of Charleston students.
“Working here gives students an insight into how the uninsured populations in our community need help and to see all of the resources that are available for them,” Dr. Khan said. “We also have extremely diverse patients and diverse staff, so it gives our students a unique view of different people and cultures.”
INSPIRE-D and Diabetes Support
Tackling diabetes is another initiative high on the list for Dr. Khan, who is using funds from a federal grant to power the clinic’s INSPIRE-D program. Its vision is to “lower diabetes rates in underserved Hispanic communities by offering culturally sensitive health care and empowering individuals with knowledge and resources to lead healthier lives.”
“Every health fair that we’ve done so far, I can vouch that one or two people have been diagnosed with life-threatening conditions, so these kinds of screenings have made a seriously positive impact on people’s lives,” Dr. Khan said. “And on the food pantry side, we gave out 500 turkeys to families in need last year, so the impact is easy to see.”
What’s Next for Shifa Clinic
Dr. Khan hopes to expand the services of Shifa Clinic in the near future to include a soup kitchen in addition to its food pantry.
To learn more about Shifa Clinic or to donate your time or funds, visit icnarelief.org/shifaclinics.
By Colby Denton
