Truman Health Services, a division of University of New Mexico (UNM) Health, celebrated the grand opening of its Roswell clinic Tuesday at 601 W. Country Club Road. The clinic offers treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C, as well as prevention and care for sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
Craig LaBerge-Esparza, community health resource manager for UNM Truman Health, said the clinic is the premier HIV clinic in the state.
“We actually treat more than half of the people living with HIV in the state of New Mexico,” he said.
LaBerge-Esparza said the clinic also offers hepatitis C treatment and general non-conforming services.
“We are starting here in Roswell with HIV services, and we will be offering additional services here in the next couple of months,” LaBerge-Esparza said.
He said the clinic seeks to offer more than just medication to its patients.
LaBerge-Esparza said the clinic will evaluate each patient and design a course of treatment based on that patient’s needs, whether those needs are for medication, behavioral health treatment or more.
“We look at a whole-health basis,” he said. “We never want to just give medications and send them on their way.”
He said the goal is to keep patients healthy emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
The clinic will also focus on prevention, LeBarge-Esparza said.
“We want to prevent people from contracting HIV as well,” he said.
Dr. Michelle Iandiorio, medical director for the clinic, said she was very pleased to have the clinic open in Roswell.
“We opened up a brick-and-mortar clinic to serve specialty, primary treatment care, and that means prevention and treatment and SDI prevention,” she said.
“We have supportive community partners who have helped us,” Iandiorio said. “This permanent structure shows our permanent commitment to the people here.”
Iandiorio said Truman…
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